US student builds greenhouses in Sierra Leone

Biological engineering major Brett Abele — who just graduated this month — spent last summer in Zambia. He went with 17 other students in the Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship program. For three weeks, Abele worked as part of a small team of six people to build greenhouses to improve food security.

Abele worked closest with the carpenters, as he personally taught them how to build the greenhouses even before he built them himself. He was able to do that because he had worked on the construction manual all summer.

Abele emerged as the leader for his team, successfully getting the greenhouses completed. The experience made him realize he could make a difference in the world. He is traveling to Sierra Leone for three weeks in May, and then to Mozambique by himself in June to do research on how much water the greenhouses save.

He also will work as a manager, helping to push the greenhouse venture from a startup phase to a maturity phase.

Source: Penn State University