Young pupils innovate tools

CEBU, Philippines - As a project in his Science class, a Grade Six pupil of Don Vicente Rama Memorial Elementary School (DVRMES) in Cebu City's Barangay Guadalupe came up with an electric styropor cutter that only cost seven pesos to make. The materials were easily sourced from a hardware store or at an electronic/electrical shop - the switch, the V-shaped wood, nichrome wire and wood staplers.

Richvand Lemuel Abadilla showcased his improvised tool at the 8th Student Technologists and Entrepreneurs of the Philippines - National Skills Development and Competitions in 2010 in Naga City, Camarines Sur. The boy had earlier won first place in the Cebu City Schools Division Science Fair and Congress in 2009, from where he went on to represent Cebu City in the regional round of the tilt in Danao City. The innovative idea came from a basic knowledge in simple circuit wiring taught by Industrial Arts teacher Arnold Y. Alquilos.

The winning innovation has since inspired other pupils at the school. This year another group has figured out a way to recycle used mobile phone chargers, as class project in Home Economics and Livelihood Education. The contraption is paired up with the earlier electric styropor cutter, as power source.

This latest project shows that "used cellphone chargers may still prove functional," according to Sir Arnold. "It's so simple to do." So simple indeed that it only takes young pupils to do.