In a remarkable display of innovation and compassion, a group of high school girls from a community near Los Angeles has developed a solar-powered tent designed to aid the homeless. With no prior experience in DIY projects, these twelve students dedicated a year to transform their vision into reality, culminating in a presentation at MIT’s young inventors conference.
The students, all from San Gabriel High School, were motivated by the alarming rise in homelessness, which surged by 36% in their area over the past year. Team members Mia Torres and Sofia Ramirez explained their desire to make a difference: “Coming from low-income backgrounds, we wanted to contribute something meaningful,” said Torres. “We felt compelled to provide help beyond just financial aid,” added Ramirez.
Their solution? A solar-powered tent that conveniently folds into a backpack. The team was inspired and guided by Clara Nguyen, the executive director of a local nonprofit aimed at encouraging girls in STEM fields. Thanks to a $10,000 grant from the Lemelson-MIT program, they had the resources to kick-start their project.
Founded in 2012, the nonprofit has seen a surge in participation, growing from just 35 girls in its inaugural year to 650 students across various educational levels by 2016. With women comprising only 29% of the science and engineering workforce—only 6% of whom are Latina—Nguyen is passionate about changing these statistics. “As a woman in aerospace engineering, I often felt isolated in my classes, and I’m determined to empower the next generation,” she shared.
The girls, initially reliant on Nguyen’s assistance, soon became self-sufficient, utilizing YouTube and Google to acquire necessary skills. One standout member, Lily Chen, even learned C++ programming to integrate button-powered lighting, USB ports, and a micro-USB port into their tent design.
Creating the tent demanded not only creativity but also a significant commitment of time. The students dedicated themselves to after-school work six days a week, even during breaks, engaging in coding, sewing, and rigorous testing. They crafted two prototypes, one of which succumbed to the challenges of testing—demonstrating their resolve to ensure functionality.
After finalizing their design, the next challenge was to secure funding for their trip to MIT, where they needed an additional $15,000 to present their project. Along the way, their efforts captured attention, leading to an interview with a popular media personality. They aspire not only to help the homeless but also to inspire other girls to pursue careers in science and technology.
“We’re the only two girls in our AP Calculus class among a sea of boys,” said team member Emily Sanchez. “But we’re determined to change that narrative.”
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In summary, this dynamic all-girl engineering team exemplifies innovation and determination, working tirelessly to create a practical solution for homelessness while challenging gender norms in STEM. Their story serves as a beacon of hope and inspiration for future generations of girls in engineering.