Provide Solar Power to 8 Sierra Leone Villages

Summary

8 communities next to Tiwai Island in Sierra Leone will receive solar electricity. Schools will be targeted to expand access to education, increase community activities and act as charging facilities.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

Providing power to these communities’ schools allows each of the roughly 400 households to gain access to improved education and modern, clean lighting that can provide immediate and long-term impacts. Tiwai Island is Sierra Leone’s only Community Based Eco-Tourism project and is a globally important biodiversity location due to its high concentration of primates. Without development opportunities in the 8 adjacent communities the long term viability of the wildlife reserve is threatened.

How will this project solve this problem?

Each of the 8 community schools will be provided with solar electricity. Rechargeable lanterns will be introduced that can be brought to the school for charging. Community members will be trained to operate and maintain the system in the long term.

Potential Long Term Impact

Improving the education level of community members is vital to the development of the villages. Providing light allows for increased hours for study, the potential for rotation system to allow for evening classes and a facility for vocational classes

Project Message

Since the system was installed children are studying longer hours than before. For me it has reduced the cost of kerosene and other people in the village admire the lighting in my home.
- Abdul M. Kamara, EFA Security Guard - Lakka Resident

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).

Resources