Every student in MYP is required to carry out a Personal Project in their final year. The Personal Project provides an opportunity for students to undertake an independent and age-appropriate exploration into an area of personal interest. Through the process of inquiry, action and reflection, students are encouraged to demonstrate and strengthen their ATL skills.

Kevin Owusu-Afriyie (MYP 5) decided to make an electric off-road vehicle which is powered by rechargeable batteries and runs on an electric motor with DC supply. This electric vehicle is ideal for parks and airport uses. A modified and more robust version can be used on farms and for off-road racing. This vehicle does not harm the environment. Its costs over time are relatively cheaper compared to a combustion-engine vehicle, and it is sustainable.

REFLECTION FROM THE STUDENT 

For my MYP Personal Project, I decided to make an electric off-road vehicle. Having the opportunity to showcase myself whilst effectively acquiring knowledge, why not take a big step in my desired career aspect. Loving cars and mechanics with a passion, I have been crafting and creating cars with cardboard and other materials from my early ages.

This project has been a rollercoaster of emotions and effort. There were happy nights when measurements and equipment were appropriate and there were other times when calculations were not on point and this caused problems for the project.

This project experience has enabled me to implement knowledge from my Physics and Math classes and apply it to the product. I have developed numerous career skills, such us 3D modelling, cutting and welding of metal bars and wiring through the course of this project and have also benefited from the use of research and collaboration skills. I already have ideas to improve it which would make the car more sustainable than it already is.

I want to express my profound gratitude to my friends for their encouragement, my loving mother and family for helping me with funds and support, and I am grateful to my supervisor for assistance, mechanic experts for assistance and tutoring in new areas. I am also grateful for being in the Middle Years Programme at TIS which has given me the opportunity to pursue such a project and finally, Almighty God, for His helping hand through this journey.

(Congratulations, Kevin, on your unique Personal Project, which I am confident will now inspire many new projects in future years. Dr Ken.)