A dozen public schools in the Mexican state of Zacatecas could soon have electricity to run their computers, thanks to a University of North Texas student project.

The group of UNT engineering students initiated the project last year by designing a solar panel that was installed in a middle school in San Ignacio, Zacatecas, a town about 300 miles north-northwest of Mexico City.

The solar panel stores energy from the sun's heat and channels it to a small device that feeds a battery, which, in turn, powers the computers.

Previously, to run the school's computers, teachers would use a long extension cord plugged into a building across the street to power their classroom.

"The Mexican government had given every school at least two computers ... but the problem in that area is that they had no access to electricity," said Miguel Juanez, president of UNT's chapter of Future Without Poverty, a nonprofit organization that aims to eradicate poverty through education, enterprise, empowerment and environmental awareness. "They had to get it from this person who was charging them 60 pesos [or a little less than $6]. ...They could only do that so many days out of the month."

UNT students and sponsors would like to replicate the project in 12 schools at three other small Zacatecas communities.

So they're hoping to raise $3,000 through a musical event Sunday in Denton called "Capturing a Better Tomorrow: A Global Agenda." The event will feature Mexican and African dance, music and poetry.

The students, who are enrolled in a three-week summer course titled Redirecting Globalization: Mexican Cultures and Civilizations, will install the panels in May. The class takes students to Zacatecas City and Guadalajara, Mexico, to study sustainable development and work on community service projects, said Stan Ingman, director of UNT's Center for Public Services.

Students in the class have built fish farms and chicken hatcheries for villages, planted peach orchards and installed water harvesting and water pasteurization systems.