Light Libraries for Students in Sierra Leone

Total Number of Beneficiaries Reached: 2,200 including school children, head teachers and smallholder farmers.

Total Number of Lights and Chargers received and Distributed: 2,000 solar lights and 200 chargers

Summary of distribution

• The solar lights and chargers were distributed in Sittia, Dema and Bendu-Cha chiefdoms, in Bonthe District. In total, 2,200 people benefited from the support and these consist of 2,000 school children (980 boys and 1,080 girls) from 28 schools, 80 head teachers and 20 local farmer group leaders.
• The recipient pupils and headteachers are from all government-approved primary schools in the above indicated chiefdoms which benefit from the home-grown school feeding programme while the farmers represent farmer groups which supply locally produced food items used to supplement the school feeding ration.
• Targeted communities are riverine/island-based, remote and inaccessible both in the dry and rainy seasons. They are deprived of basic social amenities such as health services/hospitals and electricity.
• The expected impact of the provision of solar lights and chargers is that there will be improved access to electricity, enhance safety, and support educational activities during the night. This will help reduce the reliance on kerosene lamps and improve overall quality of life in these underserved areas.

Beneficiary feedback

The recipients expressed appreciation for the support indicating that it will go a long way in improving their lives in different ways. Below are quotes or testimonies from selected beneficiaries (photos can be accessed through the link provided):

John - Pupil DEC primary School Baimbay

“I am in class three. I want to become a presidential guard when I grow up. This light will help me to study and achieve my dream.”

Musu - Pupil DEC primary school Baimbay

“I am in class two. There is no electricity at home, and I find it difficult to study. This light will help me improve my grades.”

Joseph - Head Teacher DEC primary School Baimbay

“I live in a remote area without electricity grid or any charging facility. I had problem keeping my phone on all the time due to this constraint. I even found it difficult to share information with WFP on the home-grown school feeding. I happy to receive the solar power bank as this will enable me to share required information with WFP, charge my light and prepare my lesson notes.

Nafiesatu - Pupil Roman Catholic primary school Mania

“I live with my grandmom, and she can’t afford to buy a solar light. I have been finding it difficulty to study at night and this has been affecting my grades. With this solar light I hope to do better in my exams”

Marie - Pupil Roman Catholic primary school Mania

“I am 12 years old and I want to become a nurse when I grow up. I often go the house of my classmate in the neighbourhood at night to study because they use solar light. This does poses risks to me as a girl child, and I don’t normally have enough time to study. Having my own solar light will improve my grades.”