eWASTE DRIVE
I started an eWaste project because I noticed how many broken computers were getting thrown away and contributing to pollution. By collecting and repairing them, I can help cut down waste and give children in need access to refurbished technology.
Every Saturday, I drove around my neighborhood, handing out flyers I designed to spread awareness about my cause. I also reached out to potential supporters through cold emails, hoping to gather donations.
Along my journey, one key connection I made was with Officer Michelle of the Coral Gables Police Department. She works in public relations, and I asked if she could help me acquire any unused computers from the department. Additionally, I spoke with Mr. Rodriguez, the head of technology at my school, and was able to collect several computers that were no longer in use. These efforts helped me gather the resources I needed to start my project.
As a result of my efforts I collected a total of 33 computers of which I was able to successfully refurbish 26. Seven of the computers had either broken screens that were unable to be fixed or more serious problems which led to us use those computers as scraps. I plan to bring the refurbished computers to a school in India during the summer of 2025 where I will be teaching computer programming to a class of students.
SOLAR PROJECT
Solar Project was established to give people in Miami the opportunity to learn more about solar energy while providing access to solar benches.
To strengthen the project’s long-term vision, I developed the idea for a solar bench app, which enhanced our presentations to city officials and nonprofits. With one teammate, I created the first mobile solar charger prototype to support the homeless community. At the same time, I focused on aligning the team by teaching members about our shared goals and outlining the steps needed to achieve them. To maximize resources, I coordinated with the University of Miami to use their 3D printers for our second prototype, reducing costs by 90% compared to public printers, and ultimately printed two prototypes after spending more than ten hours on research and design.
Beyond technical contributions, I also guided my teammates in practical skills, such as how to write effective emails, after my own outreach generated strong responses.
A meeting with four city officials inspired the idea of adding QR codes to solar benches and stations, which would share educational solar facts with the public. This idea expanded further, and we added QR codes to more than twenty regular benches in addition to the five existing solar benches.
To build credibility and increase partnership opportunities, I designed and presented two solar bench prototypes to the vice-mayor and four city officials. Along the way, I recruited two additional team members, researched ways to advance the prototype, and kept the team motivated to continue driving the Solar Project forward.
