This project seeks to provide 3750 solar powered flashlights to 19 rural and underdeveloped communities on the island of La Gonave, Haiti to help meet the energy needs of impoverished families with children in public primary school system. This projects hopes to plant 5 fruit and 5 forest trees per student for every solar powered flashlights given providing the island residents much needed long term food sources while helping to reforest the island.
There is no electricity in the majority of the rural communities in Haiti. The island of La Gonave is one of such communities. In some rare cases individual families may have the resources to buy a small gasoline powered generator, a major source of pollution that may only provide enough electricity to light up one or two light bulbs. Those without the means to buy a generator rely on kerosene lamps, lanterns or firewood to light up their houses. This is what children use to study at night.
By providing the students and their families with a solar powered flashlight, a clean and durable source of energy, this eliminates the complete reliance on kerosene lamps, lanterns and firewood as an energy source for over 75000 families and their children. It addresses the chronic environmental threat that has facilitated numerous disasters Haiti faces.
Long term, this project seeks to improve the health of students and their immediate families, thereby allowing them to spend more time in school. It encourages more parents to send their children to school, therefore reducing the high rate of illiteracy among children. It provides a secure source of economic empowerment for the communities where the project is being implemented.
