Lesson 1 – L: Launch Your Learning: Why Electricity Matters Around the World

L: Launch Your Learning

Stakeholders See the Problem in Different Ways

A stakeholder is a person or group affected by a choice, and each stakeholder has different wants and needs that frame what they care about and prioritize.

For example, a health expert may care most about clinics and medicine. An environmental scientist may care most about pollution and land use. A government planner may care most about cost and serving many people.

Based on their perspectives, they would make choices that align with those cares and values. There are role cards below that align with different types of stakeholders. Explore each role card to get an idea of what might be important to a person who identifies as one of these stakeholders.

Stakeholder	What This Stakeholder May Care About
Community Members	Daily life, safety, school, work, water, and phones.
Government Planners	Cost, size, repairs, and helping many people fairly.
Health Experts	Clinics, hospitals, medicine, clean water, and safety.
Energy Engineers	How the system works, how to fix it, and how safe it is.
Environmental Scientists	Pollution, land use, climate, and long-term effects.
Moderator	A fair, respectful, and organized discussion.

Role Cards

Who You Are : You are residents of a community that currently does not have reliable access to electricity. Many households rely on candles, kerosene lamps, or small generators, which can be expensive and unsafe.

Your Goal : Help others understand what daily life is like without electricity and what changes reliable electricity access could bring to your community.

What You Care About :

Being able to study or work after dark
Safety in homes and public spaces
Access to clean water and refrigeration for food
Job opportunities and local businesses

Your Main Idea : Reliable, affordable electricity would significantly improve quality of life and create new opportunities for education, health, and work.

You Might Say :

“We want electricity that is safe, affordable, and available when we need it.”
“Without electricity, it is difficult for students to study in the evening.”

Who You Are : You are doctors, nurses, or public health specialists who understand how electricity affects health care and community well-being.

Your Goal : Explain why reliable electricity is essential for protecting health and saving lives.

What You Care About :

Power for hospitals and clinics
Safe storage of medicines and vaccines
Clean water and sanitation systems
Reducing health risks from smoke or unsafe lighting

Your Main Idea : Electricity is a foundation for modern health care and public health; without it, basic medical services and disease prevention are much harder.

You Might Say :

“Hospitals need a constant power supply to operate equipment and keep patients safe.”
“Refrigeration for vaccines and medicines is critical for preventing disease.”

Who You Are : You study ecosystems, climate, and how energy choices affect the environment now and in the future.

Your Goal : Help others understand the environmental impacts of different electricity options and promote solutions that protect natural resources.

What You Care About :

Air and water pollution
Greenhouse gas emissions and climate change
Land use and habitat disruption
Long-term sustainability of energy sources

Your Main Idea : Communities need electricity, but it is important to choose energy sources and systems that minimize harm to the environment and support a sustainable future.

You Might Say :

“Burning fossil fuels for electricity can increase air pollution and contribute to climate change.”
“Solar and wind energy can reduce emissions, but we still need to think about land use and materials.”

Who You Are : You work for a national or regional government agency that plans and funds large infrastructure projects, including energy systems. You must think about the whole country, not just one community.

Your Goal : Make informed, long-term decisions about how to bring electricity to as many people as possible with limited resources.

What You Care About :

Overall cost and long-term financial sustainability
Serving large numbers of people fairly
Maintaining infrastructure over time
Balancing urban and rural needs

Your Main Idea : Energy solutions must be cost-effective, scalable, and durable so that investments benefit many communities over many years.

You Might Say :

“We have to consider both initial construction costs and long-term maintenance.”
“We want solutions that can be expanded to reach more people over time.”

Who You Are : You are engineers who design and maintain systems that deliver electricity to homes, businesses, and public buildings.

Your Goal : Explain how different technical solutions (such as national grids and mini-grids) can bring electricity to communities, and what trade-offs each option involves.

What You Care About :

How systems are designed and how they work
Reliability and resilience of the grid or mini-grid
How easy it is to repair and maintain equipment
Matching the system to local conditions and demand

Your Main Idea : There are multiple technical pathways to bring electricity to communities, and each has advantages and limitations depending on location, cost, and infrastructure.

You Might Say :

“A national grid can serve many users but may be expensive to extend to remote areas.”
“Mini-grids can be tailored to local needs and can use renewable energy sources.”

Who You Are : You guide the discussion and help ensure that all stakeholders are heard. You do not argue for one solution; instead, you manage the process.

Your Goal : Make sure the discussion is organized, respectful, and focused on the criteria and questions the class is exploring.

Your Responsibilities :

Call on speakers and keep track of time
Encourage participation from all groups
Ask follow-up questions that push for clearer reasoning and evidence

You Might Say :

“Let’s hear from one more group before we respond.”
“Can you explain how cost or reliability influenced your thinking?”
“Does anyone have a different perspective on this solution?”

Your Role

Select a role that you’d like to think from and outline what you believe this role would most likely care about. Be sure to give a reason for what you care about by using evidence. This evidence can come from the lesson, included chart, or a real example you know of.

Then draft an opening statement you would share with others about what you think is the most important consideration and why. Include some additional key ideas about why electricity matters or how to bring it to communities from your perspective. Then think about a meaningful question you may have for a different stakeholder role related to electricity and access.