Solar-bamboo bags for children in low-income Ugandan schools

We are providing basic classroom equipment for 20,000 children in low-income primary schools across Africa using SeatPacks: $25 school bags that turn into bamboo classroom chairs with writing surfaces, solar lamp-kit and menstrual-kits for adolescent girls inside by 2030.

In East Africa, over 10 million rural/refugee children aged 6 to 15 years study in neglected classrooms lacking both furniture and electricity (due to the high cost of wooden furniture averaging $100 each, with 1% of schools connected to the power grid in Uganda alone). These factors greatly discourage school completion, negatively affecting learning at school and at home, limiting future earning opportunities for for both boys and girls alike.

SeatPacks are in use daily by 3,000 children in 35 schools across Uganda alone (East Africa).

Meeting this goal means:

1. Giving 20,000 more children from low-income families a chance to a build better future for themselves through a continued education at school and at home.

2. Contribute to combating climate change by proving feasibility of replacing timber with bamboo as the key furniture material for classrooms.

3. Reclaiming up to 20% of the school year for adolescent girls in low-income families by delivering menstrual tool-kits.

The SeatPack was designed by the Zetu Africa team for delivery by the Zetu Foundation to bring it to 20,000 school children by 2030. The SeatPack is 100% locally produced in Uganda with local artisans and bamboo farmers. Research and design development started late 2019 and 17 iterations have been tested with child and teacher feedback.

The Zetu Foundation has been established to fundraise for SeatPack production and distribution for children in low-income schools at no extra cost to the children or their families.

The SeatPack is:

1. Personal and Mobile; making the classroom a natural extension of every child, with sitting and writing functions possible wherever they choose to learn (Indoor and outdoor).

2. Light weight; at 600 grams each unit is less than 10% the weight of a 6 year old girl with one main pocket to limit heavy load intentionally.

3. Non-chemically treated bamboo and canvas, replacing tree-timber as the sustainable alternative material for classroom furniture.

4. Gender equality conscious with a menstrual toolkit for female adolescent students to stay in school all year round.

5. Durable with a 5 year working guarantee. Canvas and bamboo lends all-weather material strength, with no zippers or buttons for easy repair by sewing if torn.

6. Low cost at $15 per unit versus the $100 tree-timber furniture unit traditionally used by well to do schools.
7. Supports learning at school with sitting and writing functions, alongside learning at home with solar lamp-kits for off-grid communities (80% of the continent).

Amongst many testimonials, some rural and refugee school comments to-date have included;

1. Teacher feedback: “Outdoor classes have been easier to carry out due to the mobile nature of each SeatPack.” “Students increased attention during classes because of upright sitting.” “Consistent attendance of girls even in their period because of menstrual purse in the SeatPack.”

2. Student feedback: “Class is nice to go to”. “Easier writing because of my own writing surface”. “We study outside more in afternoons now”.

3. Parent feedback: "They are excited to go to school after receiving SeatPacks”. “When can we have more units”.

Together, we are keen to help graduate 20,000 more children in low-income families from a primary to a secondary school education by 2030 through distributing the basic learning equipment they lack for use at school and home daily.