The average summer temperatures in Attock, Punjab, Pakistan ranges from 99 F to 109 F. While the 3 co-ed Morning Schools take a summer break from June 1st to August 14th, the 3 Evening Schools for Girls continue through the hot weather daily. Power cuts, commonly known as 'load-shedding,' last for many hours daily. Barakat Pakistan obtained 4 UPS with 16 batteries (4 batteries/UPS) from a Turkish organization, TIKA, in 2015. All 16 batteries have run out completely and need replacing urgently.
Imagine studying in sweltering heat! This, unfortunately, is a reality in countries like India and Pakistan, where electricity is not guaranteed and power-cuts can last from anywhere from a few hours to the entire day. No prior notice is given and no recourse offered. Given this situation, organizations, families and individuals purchase their own power sources: generators, inverters or UPS (uninterrupted power supply). This has been the case for Barakat Pakistan school as well.
By providing the batteries for the 4 UPS that Barakat Pakistan already has we are basically re-activating their power source, allowing students (esp. the girls who attend the Evening Schools year round) to learn in an atmosphere that enables learning. Barakat Pakistan rents 4 buildings as schools in Attock, each one of which will use one UPS. Currently, they are at the mercy of the local power supply, which is erratic, to say the least.
Once the batteries are installed for all 4 UPS they will last for one year to one year and a half. This also allows the schools to operate the CCTV which is required by the Pakistani government in order to maintain basic security precautions in school. While this is a recurring expenditure, this is our first time on Global Giving with this project, and I hope that it will strike a chord in your heart as you battle the heat of the summer of 2019.
