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Among its long-term objectives, the Maurice Ile Durable (MID) project intends to improve the nation’s energy portfolio and security, to endorse sustainable development and to address climate change threats. In line with its mandate to promote science and technology in Mauritius, the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre (RGSC) has come forward with a project entitled “Promoting a Renewable Energy Culture among primary school children in Mauritius” that will garner the support of the younger generation to the MID cause. By promoting awareness about the effects of conventional energy sources on the environment and the benefits of renewable energy technologies, it is expected that the project will nurture a renewable energy culture among the primary school students and by extrapolation, among the society.

The MID Fund has kindly agreed to financially support this project. During the pilot phase of the project, educational kits that portray those renewable energy technologies that are most applicable to Mauritius will be distributed among forty primary schools. The kits are fully functional models that demonstrate realistically wind power, photovoltaic and solar water heating technologies. A whole range of hands-on activities has been developed around the kits to help children understand the intricacies of renewable energies. A one-day training workshop will also be conducted for a teacher from each school to familiarise them with the kits as well as with the activities that can be performed in and out of the classroom with these kits. It is also interesting to note that the activities associated with the kits are fully compatible with the primary school science curriculum.

The distribution of the renewable energy kits to the schools was done on Thursday 18 March 2010 by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Renewable Energy and Public Utilities, Dr the Honourable A.R. Beebeejaun, GCSK, FRCP in the presence of Dr. The Honourable V. K. Bunwaree, Minister of Education, Culture and Human Resources.