CHALLENGE: Alexandra Township, Johannesburg- one of the poorest and most densely populated informal settlements in South Africa suffers from an uncontrollable rat problem.

The rats feed on non-organic matter (trash) i.e. food that is unnatural to a rat’s diet. As a result the rats become large in size and are a nuisance to the community, carrying and spreading infections and disease. There have been a number of failed attempts by the City Council to curb the problem.

INSIGHT: Rats are attracted by the smell of rubbish within refuse bins as they search for food.

PIVOTAL IDEA: The “Capture Can”. Regular refuse bins are modified by adding a special compartment at the bottom that serves as a rat trap. The bins are distributed amongst the community by “Pikitup” - the City’s official waste management service provider. As the rats go in search of food within the bins, they’ll enter the trap-door at the bottom of the bin and will be contained inside the compartment until The City of Johannesburg collects them and hands them over to a state appointed organisation for extermination.

RESULT: Pikitup ensures that more rats are caught, creating a healthier environment and improving the living standards of the Alex community.

CAPTURE CAN

INSIGHT: The rural poor make up the bulk of the millions of peoplewithout access to the electricity grid in South Africa.

As a result, paraffin lamps are used for lighting by which children do their homework; however, paraffin lamps greatly increase the risk of shack fires, which spread quickly and often destroy entire communities.

IDEA: Children walk long distances and are active throughout the day, so why not harness the energy they use to provide them with a light by which to do their schoolwork that is risk free.

Eskom in partnership with SolePower presents the “Bright Soles” initiative.

HOW IT WORKS: Eskom will distribute SolePower insoles tounderprivileged children around South Africa.

SolePower provides an insole that fits into a school shoe that is ableto harnesses the kinetic energy generated by walking. The energy is stored in a battery pack attached to the tongue of a school-shoe. A light source can then be attached to the battery pack, once charged by walking.

RESULT: Bright Shoes keep kids safe and learning happily so thatthey can build bright futures for themselves in a country with so much promise and growth potential.