A Clean Solar Alternative to Kerosene Lamps, Nepal

Studying, especially for girls, has never been easy in rural areas. Such is the case of Asmita, a resident of Loling VDC, Chitwan.

“I cannot study whenever I want to”, shares Asmita shyly. “There are house chores to do and younger sisters and brothers to look after.”

Asmita is one of the outstanding students of her class but her excellence in studies do not come easily. Like most of her classmates, she has list of chores to complete everyday before finally sitting to study at night.

“Before, I used to study without my parents knowing… only because we used kerosene lamps at night. And me using more kerosene meant more scolding!” Asmita reveals. But she doesn’t have to do it that way nowadays. The reason is solar tuki provided to her by ECCA, which uses zero kerosene and is designed for easy handling and maintanance.

“Two solar tuki lamps that I got in school, we use one for studying and my mother uses the other in the kitchen”,  she says.

For charging, she has to take the lamps to the school, where multiple charger has been kept. It has been a very good excuse to send her to school almost everyday.

Asmita’s story resonates with over 200 households, in her village and neighbouring villages, where solar tuki lamps and multiple chargers (in schools) were provided .  According to the respondents, this has minimized the use of kerosene to a huge extent and attendance number of students in schools is amplifying.

Thank you for your continued support.

ECCA conducted Solar Tuki Follow up Program in schools of Kalitar, Chyeuding, Gundi and Loling villages in Chitwan district from 6th-9th September, 2016, where solar tuki lamps and multiple chargers were distributed 3 months ago.  The main objective of the visit was to observe the effectiveness of tukis in the lives of local people. Since solar tuki management committees were also established during the distribution time, their effectiveness were also analysed during the monitoring.

Interaction meetings were held with the community people, where people expressed their individual views and feedbacks regarding the solar tuki. With solar mass charging stations placed at schools, parents opened up to the fact that they now have to send their children to school for charging the tukis, which is undoubtedly helping in child education.

“Solar tuki is a very easy lamp, which can be taken anywhere at any time. It is very beneficial for our study and we can even charge them even during holidays”, expressed one of the students in Gundi. In fact, the school attendance has also increased according to the teachers.  

Feedback meeting at Rastriya Primary School, Kalitar

 Manamaya, who sits to study at night after her household chores are over

Traditional kerosene lamps are now not used in the village.

In case of any problems regarding functioning of solar tuki, they are repaired by local technicians (who were trained by ECCA during tuki distribution).

Local technicians repairing solar tuki at Tikashwori Primary School, Cheuding

Children and community of Chitwan are moving a step forward in education and technology accessibility. In fact, ECCA will continue to help similar marginalized areas and people where solar tuki can make a positive impact. We are grateful for all who have been supporting us in this regard.