Green Valley, in Kiamba, Sarangani Province, is an unelectrified village which still relies mainly on kerosene lamps when darkness falls. This project will provide solar lights to 100 T'Boli students of Green Valley Integrated School within the village so they can study safely and effectively at night, and will train parents on proper management and repair of the solar lights.
For the 100 students of Green Valley Integrated School (GVIS), going back to unelectrified homes means doing homework and chores with the dim light of candles or kerosene lamps provide, exposing themselves to hazardous fumes and the dangers of getting burned. For them, learning, play, and work pause with the setting of the sun. Candles or lamps are put out after an hour or two of use due to cost (of $0.20/night or $1.40/week).
Solarized Homes to Improve and Nurture Education (SHINE) shall address these limitations and concerns by providing students' homes with solar lights. Their parents will be trained on proper management and repair of the solar lights to ensure long-term use and benefits to the students and their whole family. Savings from solar light use will also be monitored, which will be used mainly for two things: maintenance of the solar lights, and to contribute for the student's school needs.
Solar lights provide brighter, safer, and child-friendly lights that encourage students to continue doing their homework, to read, study, and even play when darkness envelops their community. The savings from using solar lights will provide the families with more resources to continue to support the education of the students. Better education leads to empowered families that can achieve improved quality of life for themselves.
