Volunteers from the Phoenix Peace Corps Association and the Arizona State University community came together April 3 to build dozens of portable, digital SolarSPELL libraries. The small devices are powered by a solar panel connected to a rechargeable battery and a tiny computer built by Raspberry Pi. The small containers cast a Wi-Fi signal that allows any user to connect a smartphone, tablet or computer in areas with no telecommunciation infrastructure, and the libraries are loaded with relevant, localized educational information.
The batch of devices assembled and tested at the Polytechnic campus — the first build day since the pandemic began — are destined for an Ethiopian refugee community; future build days will focus on building the libraries for Peace Corps partnerships so serving Peace Corps volunteers can carry them to communities worldwide and further their work.
SolarSPELL, which is short for Solar Powered Educational Learning Library, is a student-centered initiative hosted at ASU and is working in partnership to create these small Wi-Fi libraries that can be utilized in remote areas that may be without reliable power sources. Learn more about how it's transforming global education.
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SolarSPELL build day volunteers pose for a group photo on ASU's Polytechnic campus on April 3.
Photo by Deanna Dent/Arizona State University
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SolarSPELL buildmaster Lanette Rugis leads volunteers through the build steps.
Photo by Deanna Dent/Arizona State University
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School for the Future of Innovation in Society faculty member and SolarSPELL co-founder Laura Hosman demonstrates the small solar-powered library. The battery stores solar power and creates a Wi-Fi hot spot. When students connect via their own phones, tablets or computers, they're able to access educational resources, including modules specific to their location.
Photo by Deanna Dent/Arizona State University
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SolarSPELL student engagement coordinator and Fiji returned Peace Corps volunteer Courtney Finkbeiner (center) assists volunteers with questions as they assemble the Raspberry Pi, a small single-board computer.
Photo by Deanna Dent/Arizona State University
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Ukraine returned Peace Corps volunteer Bill Olsen attaches the SolarSPELL sticker to the exterior of the Raspberry Pi, the small computer that will emit the Wi-Fi signal students can connect to.
Photo by Deanna Dent/Arizona State University
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Eric and Kelly Ryan work on drilling holes into a plastic container that will house the computer and battery and onto which the solar panel is attached.
Photo by Deanna Dent/Arizona State University
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Zeinab Serhan and Bruce Baikie heat the wrappings on the wires connecting the rechargeable battery to the solar panel power source.
Photo by Deanna Dent/Arizona State University
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Volunteers use special soldering connectors and plastic wrap to connect the rechargeable battery cord to the solar panel cables.
Photo by Deanna Dent/Arizona State University
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Cambodia returned Peace Corps volunteer Paul George Smith Jr. glues solar panels to their cases in a final step of the process.
Photo by Deanna Dent/Arizona State University
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Phoenix Peace Corps Association volunteers work on putting together SolarSPELL libraries.
Photo by Deanna Dent/Arizona State University
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Buildmaster Lanette Rugis takes the final step of adding a date to the libraries so if any problems arise with certain materials, they can be easily found and identified.
Photo by Deanna Dent/Arizona State University
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