Solar project for rural poor

What an encouragement: Australian designed solar systems aiding the rural poor, assisted by architect Fiona Oates and Australian churches. Fiona writes,

Many of you will remember when I asked you to imagine what life would be like if you did not have light (or power) for 12 hours every day. This is still the case for 90% of Tanzanians and more when there are power shortages (which happens often especially in the dry season). When we talked recently with a local microfinance company about the possibility of combining resources in that they provide the initial loan to startup businesses to clients and we provide the training for a solar business, they were actually more interested in the benefits that the client would get from having light (solar) in the evenings. . . . (Why?)

Many (Tanzanians) go to bed early or use lighted wads of grass as light and many tell of how as children they set fire to bedclothes with candles and parents tell of the constant worry of supervising children using these dangerous forms of light. I think I would like to add improvements in safety and health to the UN declaration for this year. The money saved can go towards medicine and school fees, food and clothes.

When we look at the total lights (7,000) and systems (540) we have sold so far we can work out that the project so far has contributed to the savings of over 500,000 litres of kerosene and displacing the subsequent emission of 2,500 tonnes of carbon into the environment. This is our contribution to reducing the $16 billion of kerosene that is burnt each year in the world.

We continue to be committed to bringing Sustainable Energy to all.

How did Fiona become involved in this solar project in Tanzania?

Since 2001 Bishop Donald Mtetemela, Bishop of the Diocese of Ruaha, has had the strong desire to bring solar systems to the wider rural low income population at affordable costs. He invited Mrs. Fiona Oates to come to help work towards achieving this goal. Over the past three years, she has initiated and implemented a project to install small business solar systems in 30 rural parishes to help the pastors live and work. She installed and used her first solar system 22 years ago in Berega, Morogoro. It was a wedding gift from her husband, Ian’s, parents!

Why is solar energy so beneficial to secondary education?

Most of the Secondary Schools are boarding and very few have access to electricity. Recently the girl’s dormitory in a local school burnt down killing 12 students and badly injuring many more. The cause was found to be a forgotten candle a student had been using to study by which had set fire to bedding. This and other similar though not so fatal incidents highlight the enormous need to provide safe ‘light’ for students to study by. Fires are not the only danger. Kerosene lamps give off toxic fumes, are difficult to read by and fuel costs money that most cannot afford. At the recent AGM of Tamongsco (Tanzanian managers and owners of non government schools) the need for safe and affordable lighting for classrooms and dormitories was stressed.

The United Nations has declared 2012 as the International Year of Sustainable Energy.

Australian designer, http://barefootpower.com/barefoot-products/

Update on the solar project, http://www.cms.org.au/vic/missionaries/oates_openingreport and

DAP Report, Project to provide Solar lighting to Rural Schools in Iringa District, Tanzania.