Empower Playgrounds
| Company type | Nonprofit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Charitable organization, Renewable energy, Educational equipment |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Ben Markham |
| Headquarters | Provo , United States |
Area served | Rural regions with limited access to power, primarily in Ghana |
| Products | Energy-generating playground equipment, science kits, LED lanterns |
| Website | empowerplaygrounds |
Empower Playgrounds, Inc. is a nonprofit organization registered under 501(c)(3) in the United States that creates playground equipment capable of generating electricity for rural regions with minimal access to power. The charity focuses on communities reliant on subsistence farming where children often lack electrical resources both at home and in educational institutions, adversely affecting their learning opportunities.
History
Empower Playgrounds was established in 2007 by Ben Markham, a retired chemical engineer and former Vice President of Engineering at ExxonMobil. His experiences witnessing the absence of electricity and playground facilities in rural Ghana inspired the initiative. In partnership with Brigham Young University, the organization engineered playground apparatuses that harness the energy produced from children's play to generate electricity. The designs were further adapted locally by Kweku Anno utilizing indigenous materials, with manufacturing and installation facilitated by Anno Engineering along with support from Ghana’s Ministry of Education.
The initial phase involved modifying LED camping lanterns to be rechargeable through the generated power system. In 2009, a collaboration with Energizer led to the creation of specialized LED lanterns equipped with a chip-regulated battery pack capable of providing illumination comparable to a 25-watt bulb for over 40 hours per charge cycle, boasting a durability surpassing five years. Between 2009 and 2010, Empower Playgrounds expanded its offerings to include science kits aimed at enhancing educational outcomes.
By mid-2015, Empower Playgrounds had deployed its energy-harvesting playground equipment in 42 rural schools, broadening its reach in off-grid electrification through innovative product development and key partnerships.
Products and services
The core Empower Playgrounds system includes a merry-go-round that generates power, connected to a drive mechanism featuring a hub bearing. A drive shaft transmits motion to a helical gearbox which operates a magnet windmill generator. The electrical output is converted into direct current used to charge a battery storage unit. Complementing this setup is a 30-watt solar panel that supplies roughly 20% of the energy during school hours and helps maintain battery charge during periods when the playground is inactive.
Education
In rural settings where electricity and educational resources are scarce, hands-on science instruction faces significant challenges. In 2009, an intern working with Empower Playgrounds collaborated with Ghana’s Ministry of Education and local teachers to assess these gaps. They concluded that the playground equipment could serve as an effective tool for teaching fundamental principles of mechanics, physics, energy conversion, and electricity generation.
The following year, two interns returned to Ghana to pilot science kits alongside training sessions for educators on their practical application. The comprehensive cost for an Empower Playgrounds installation—including site evaluation, production, shipping, laboratory setup, teacher training, and equipment installation—averages around $10,000.
Also inaugurated in 2010 was a scholarship initiative aimed at supporting exceptional students attending schools equipped by Empower Playgrounds. This program has enabled at least one student from Ghana to pursue secondary education opportunities that would otherwise be inaccessible.