Engineers Dominate the EU climate Challenge.

Three young people have been selected as the winners of the climate change challenge supported by the Delegation of the European Union to Botswana and SADC. The three winners were selected out of the 120 entries by other young people, the overall winner is a young female Engineer. Eng. Maungo Refilwe Mogorosi a graduate Engineer from the University of Botswana and a member of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Botswana (ACEB). Eng. Maungo has proposed to create a green app named ‘Cli’metre’ that aims at reducing the emission of greenhouse  gases by helping people use greener methods of transportation. The app would offer various emission tracking and information services. It is the belief of Eng. Mogorosi that the app “would ultimately help to turn car owners from part of the problem into part of the solution.”
The second place went to a Male Engineer, Eng.Nicholas Phetogo Selemogo, who proposed converting standard combis into electric vehicles with fiberglass seats and solar panels. Eng. Selemogo is a member of the Association of Mechanical Engineering of United States (AOMEUS). The third place went to ‘Zeus’ Bantsi, whose proposal centered on creating a television and online series addressing issues of climate change in order to raise public awareness.
The proposal was established to inspire innovative solutions to address threats posed by climate change, The challenge ran from 28th October to 15th November 2019, was open to all in Botswana aged 35 or below, and required entrants to submit a 2page concept paper. The completion was judged by a panel of 3: Ms Ivy Afful(Socio-economist at environmental, planning and research firm Earthtec), Dr.Nnyaladzi Batisani (Lead Researcher: Environment and climate change, Botswana Institute for Technology Resaerch and Innovation-BITRI), Dr. Budzanani Tacheba (Director of Innovation and Technology at Botswana Innovation Hub and Technology Park-BIH).
The three chosen winners received technology-related prizes including tablets, laptops and printers, at a ceremony held on 27th November 2019.The Ambassador of the European Union to Botswana and SADC, Ambassador Jan Sadek while awarding prizes said, “We were happy to receive 120 submissions from young people engaged in tackling climate change issues. This competition was undertaken to spark a dialogue and identify potential change-makers in the area of climate change, and we have succeeded in doing so. Congratulations to the three chosen winners”