EnerCHI22

About me
Hi there! I'm Danielle - an educator, social+environmental activist and budding social entrepreneur. I founded CHI Unlimited to create the kinds of events and educational experiences that I believe will help make a better world.

CHI stands for Creativity, Hope and Innovation - the key ingredients for human progress - as well as being the African, Igbo and ancient East Asian word for a person’s inner spirit - that vital energy that gives us life and makes us all unique. For me, creating CHI Unlimited is all about harnessing our inner chi for good. 

Vision
I envisage a world where every person understands the collective power we have to change the status quo and where human and sustainable energies are harnessed for the good of both people + planet.

Mission
I am on a mission to create an internationally renowned annual festival of ideas and innovative actions called EnerCHI (energy+CHI) that aims to:

• make taking action against climate change more attractive and accessible to ordinary working people;
• empower communities to use science+technology to live environmentally sustainable lives;
• get more young people from marginalised communities (such as BAME and white working class boys) to break into careers in STEM and other industries like journalism, digital tech and event management.

The inaugural event - EnerCHI22 - starts this October.

It is bringing together leading scientists, technologists, artists, activists and young people from the UK and Egypt with community in Birmingham to discuss+debate the question: 

Can solar energy help solve the energy crisis and bring down our energy bills?

The festival begins with a series of round tables, free community drop-ins and workshops culminating in a UK-Egypt panel talk, a performance, an exhibition and screenings around the time of COP27, which you may know controversially takes place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, this November. 

How your money will help
With your contribution, I will work tirelessly to create the inaugural EnerCHI22.

Your contribution will help to cover the cost of:

• venues + catering
• accessibility (BSL and translation services)
• travel expenses and bursaries for young work experience candidates
• promotion 
• free drop-in and workshop facilitation
• exhibition resources
• school +community outreach activities

In return, you could receive a personal invitation to the Round Tables, a guaranteed place on one of the EnerCHI22 art workshops, and/or access to the qualitative community data that will be collated throughout the festival. 

Support for EnerCHI22
EnerCHI22 already has lots of support from its sponsors and collaborators, such as:

• Birmingham Energy Institute
• Tyseley Energy Park
• The Lunar Society
• Northfield Arts Forum
• Midlands Arts Centre
• Climate Change Solutions Ltd.
• Erin Gilbey - Windswept Workshops
• Dr. Francisco Diego, UCL
• Keith Piper, visual artist, London/Birmingham
• George Seif, Misfits, Egypt

Testimonials
“I am very excited at joining the diverse and rich EnerCHI team to contribute my expertise and vision. As an astronomer, I know the uniqueness of our paradise planet in the Universe and the desperate need to preserve it. From raising awareness and identifying the main environmental problems, to the positive action required, we have a big challenge ahead.”

— Dr. Francisco Diego, UCL Astronomer & Founder of Paradise Planet Earth

“With climate collapse upon us and catastrophic fuel prices increases making energy affordable for many homes and businesses, it is more important than ever that we invest in clean and abundant renewable energy. It’s also important that we think strategically about how to use solar energy to maximise carbon savings in cities like Birmingham and Cairo and that’s why I’m pleased to be supporting the EnerCHI22 round tables that bring people together to help solve the energy crisis.”

— Phil Beardmore FRSA, AIEMA, AMEI, Energy Expert & Founder of Energy Confidence

Thank you for reading!

Danielle