FIRST ENERGY GENERATING INSTRUMENT BRINGS LIGHT TO AFRICA|手搖樂器兼太陽能充電器 點亮非洲部落

Percussionist Sudha Kheterpal has invented the world's first energy-generating instrument, Spark. By playing 12 minutes of the musical percussion shaker, an hour of light is generated. The invention will be beneficial for areas without electricity. Kheterpal believes that the power of music can bring light to people's lives. UK-based Percussionist Sudha Kheterpal aims to bring light to remote African communities through music. She has invented "Spark", the world's first energy-generating instrument, which can either act as a mini portable generator or a percussive instrument. ==SUDHA KHETERPAL, Musician and Founder of "Shake Your Power"== Initially when I started it was just this idea, it was like; 'Could this actually work.' Now that I'm two years in and have taken on the life of an entrepreneur, it's become a mission to scale up as much as possible, not for my benefit, but really to make as maximum an impact as possible worldwide. Kheterpal said her idea of inventing Spark came from 20 years of performing on stage. She said she has always wondered whether the energy of the crowd could be harnessed and used, while playing with electronic band "Faithless", pop group "The Spice Girls" and so on. Surprisingly, the inner part of Spark is rather simple. There are a magnet and a coil inside, which in turn causes a current to flow and charge the battery when moved around. ==SUDHA KHETERPAL, Musician and Founder of Shake Your Power== You play it, it's a bit like a maraca, and as you play it, it converts that energy into electricity. So, it gets stored in a battery and you can generate really effective lighting and with the addition of a solar panel you can also charge up a mobile telephone. According to the International Energy Agency, currently 1.2 billion people in the world have no access to electricity, and 68 percent of those are in sub-Saharan Africa. Playing 12 minutes of Spark can generate around an hour of light, which can greatly benefit electricity-starved areas. Kheterpal said Spark can help in three ways: mobile phone charging, lighting and education. ==MARINA SHACOLA, Head of The Sophia Foundation for Children== This is something that will not only help their own safety, but it will improve drastically their education. It will double their education because there are areas where, in western Kenya for example, it rains so much, it gets dark at four o'clock in the afternoon, which is something which makes it really dark in a hut with small windows and children are either forced to stay outside to do their thing, or they have to stay inside in total darkness. Kheterpal completed a successful kickstarter campaign in 2014, raising about US$65,660. Now, she plans to visit Kenya, India and Tanzania with the musical percussion shaker, and spark a light in people's hearts. TRANSLATED BY：ARIEL HSIEH