How solar backpacks are helping kids to read

Learning to read after school can be tricky enough when the lights are on, but imagine trying to do your homework without any light at all.

This is the situation school children in rural parts of Africa can find themselves in, with some families having to burn expensive and polluting oils in lamps so their children can learn at night.

Now an organisation is using that energy to help children read after dark in Tanzania - by using their their backpacks to power a reading light.

And they're using solar power, that's gathered free from the Sun.

How do the solar powered backpacks work?

Inventor, Innocent James, grew up in a rural community in Tanzania and understands the challenges children face without electricity.

Less than of homes in Tanzania are connected to the electricity, and under a third in rural areas which can be a big barrier to children getting an education.

He says the backpack idea came when children he was doing reading groups with returned books to him unread, as in the evening they didn't have light to read them.

He began making the solar-powered backpacks from recycled materials, including cement bags, and traditional African fabrics.

A solar panel was sewed into the bags which, fully charged, could to provide up to eight hours of light and then re-charge on the walk to school. So one day of bright weather could allow for several nights of reading.

He's been given support from the UN Development Programme for his company, which has also been given an Points of Light award by the UK government for helping 21,000 children.