By Seydou Traore | Executive Director
The solar light is helping us to study at night
After school, the pupils in the village of Kamsi can now read books, and study at night time, thanks to the solar lights provided by Community Building Group. Community Building Group has installed solar kits in several houses in the village of Kamsi to help promoting and supporting girls’ education in this remotely rural area. The village of Kamsi is located in the rural area at the Center West part of Burkina Faso where access to both water and energy is lacking.
This solar project is being the first community-based solar kit project in the country that is collectively managed by the local people themselves. Lighting rural houses is a main ingredient for helping educational and social activities, and particular girls can now study at time.
According to the Chief of Kamsi, “now all of our children, girls as well as boys after nightfall, can do reading, reviewing their lessons so on. The solar light is helping all of us, even women too, as well. This is a great initiative from Community Building Group, and we want this project to continue for electrifying all Kamsi and surrounding villages!!!.”
To implement this project, intensive ground works have done by working together with the local people. The local team of the Community Building Group based in Ouagadougou has prior conducted to gather enormous socio-economic data toward in-person interview and focus group discussion. In this process, the team has involved the local people in all the decision making. During and after the installation of the solar equipment, the local team has conducted capacity building activities to reinforce local communities’ capacity on how to maintain and operate the solar kits system. This will help for the long term run sustainability of this community-based solar light project.
Note that thirty beneficiary families were selected based on the plurality of children, especially because they have a very high number of girls, and because they also accepted to open their door to all kids who want to come in and study at night. The culmination of this community-based solar project is a welcome relief for the resident of Kamsi.
Norbert who is a student parent said: " With the solar light, I am sure our children will learn better. Even the women takes advantage of the light every evenings to cook their dolo (local beer)."
Rosalie, a student stated that:" I am very happy for the electrification of our house. Now I can do my homework and, I scored good grades in my English class."
Marie (photo3) said: "We are extremely happy with the solar project, may God bless Community Building Group, and all."
Souleymane (in photo4), who is a student said: “Before it was very difficult for us to do our homework at night, we always used torches to study. But now with the community solar kits, it becomes like a dream for us, because it is now easy to study, you don’t have to hold a torch, just open the book and read. This has really motivated me to study more every day. We will give our best to succeed in school."
By Kathleen McDonald | Project Helper
By Kathleen McDonald | Project Support
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