What an encouragement: Australian designed solar systems aiding the rural poor, assisted by\u00a0architect Fiona Oates and Australian churches. Fiona writes,<\/p>\n
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?)<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
We continue to be committed to bringing Sustainable Energy to all.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
How did Fiona become involved in this solar project in Tanzania?<\/em><\/p>\n
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.\u00a0 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.\u00a0\u00a0 She installed and used her first solar system 22 years ago in Berega, Morogoro.\u00a0 It was a wedding gift from her husband, Ian’s, parents!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Why is solar energy so beneficial to secondary\u00a0education?<\/em><\/p>\n
Most of the Secondary Schools are boarding and very few have access to electricity.\u00a0 Recently the girl\u2019s dormitory in a local school burnt down killing 12 students and badly injuring many more.\u00a0 The cause was found to be a forgotten candle a student had been using to study by which had set fire to bedding.\u00a0 This and other similar though not so fatal incidents highlight the enormous need to provide safe \u2018light\u2019 for students to study by.\u00a0 Fires are not the only danger.\u00a0 Kerosene lamps give off toxic fumes, are difficult to read by and fuel costs money that most cannot afford.\u00a0 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.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
The United Nations has declared 2012 as the International Year of Sustainable Energy.<\/p>\n
Read more, http:\/\/www.cms.org.au\/branch\/vic\/branch-matters\/oates-solar-system<\/a><\/p>\n
Australian designer, http:\/\/barefootpower.com\/barefoot-products\/<\/a><\/p>\n
Update on the solar project, http:\/\/www.cms.org.au\/vic\/missionaries\/oates_openingreport<\/a>\u00a0 and<\/p>\n
DAP Report, Project to provide Solar lighting to Rural Schools in Iringa District, Tanzania<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
What an encouragement: Australian designed solar systems aiding the rural poor, assisted by\u00a0architect 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 … Continue reading