project: budwale primary school

 

population: 1156 students

location: mbale region

cost: $3040

summary: the parents of budwale primary school have pooled together their funds to pay for candles and kerosene lamps. they do so because many of them live far away from the school, and their children cannot travel home each night. Instead, they sleep in their classrooms or in nearby huts. mr, walela hamudani namanda, budwale primary’s head teacher, has taken this opportunity to run night lessons for these students. but the financial toll of the candles and kerosene lamps on families that earn less than $1 a day has been too great. parents have been forced to give up money for food and clothing to pay for kerosene. with solar energy in their school, the parents won’t have to chose between feeding and educating their children. and with light for their nighttime study sessions, these students can receive the education that will help bring them and their families a better life.

project: bushiuyo primary school          

 

population: 715 students

location: mbale region

cost: $2383

summary: bushiuyo primary school is located in the mountains of mbale uganda. the surrounding village is 9km of impassable mountain roads away from the nearest source of electricity. the head teacher of bushiuyo primary, mr.wafula magidu, piloted an evening study program for adults and children last year. they are a community of farmers, and many cannot attend school during the day. mr. magidu wanted to provide the local population with an opportunity to learn after the sun sets, and so he began this initiative of opening his school and bringing in teachers for the public in the evenings. without light, however, the long-anticipated and well-attended program is failing. the community cannot afford the candles and kerosene lamps to keep it going. with the infrastructure for this nighttime study already in place, providing the bushiuyo primary school with solar energy will allow an entire community to come together in the evenings to learn, providing them with the opportunity they deserve to gain an education.

Project: nanzala primary school

 

population: 946 students

location: budaka district

cost: $10,879

summary: the oldest students of nanzala primary school were studying for their national exams when a storm blew off the roof of their school. they had been sleeping at the time—many were staying all night in school, preparing for the nation-wide exam that determines whether or not they will make it to secondary school. the tests are easy for those that prepare, but without light in their homes, these children do not have the opportunity to study in the evenings. now, with money going to repair the roof of the school, there is none left to fund the candles and kerosene lamps used to light nighttime study sessions. with solar energy in their classrooms, the students of nanzala will be able to resume their studies and continue on to the higher education they deserve.

Project: nanyuza primary school

 

population: 512 students

location: mbale region

cost: $10,879

summary: tom wadela is a teacher at nanyuza primary school. he has decided to volunteer his evenings after work to run optional evening sessions with his students. “learning at night has helped these students to improve their weakest subjects,” he said. and mr. wadela is not the only teacher who has volunteered. but with only candles and kerosene lamps for light, these dedicated teachers can hardly see to teach. with solar systems from israel, the teachers of nanyuza school will be able to offer the same quality lessons at nighttime that they do in the day, and students can continue to strive towards brightening their future with academic success.

Project: kiranga primary school

 

population: 767 students

location: namutumba district

cost: $10,879

summary: two teachers live on-site at kiranga primary school in small staff quarters next to the school. their tin roof huts are provided for them because they are from the city, and have been assigned to help enhance the quality of education in the village. these teachers have been trying to pilot a computer course for their students for years, but without electricity, there is no hope that these teachers can provide computer training to their students. instead, students and teachers alike squint for hours each night, straining their eyes to prepare their homework and study in near darkness. these teachers are doing their best to help give their students a better life, and by giving them solar technology for light and computer use, we can provide students with access to the outside world and a better chance of success.

Project: lwaso primary

 

population: 550 students

location: mbale district

cost: $10,879

summary: located 10km away from the nearest village with electricity, the lwaso primary school is home to 530 students and nine teachers. the school has no official boarding program, but both students and teachers have to walk such great distances to get there that they often spend the night sleeping in their classrooms, pushing  back the desks and sleeping on the cement floors. each night, these students struggle to complete their studies by candlelight. solar energy in lwaso primary school would allow the community to come together in the evenings, eating meals, studying and preparing for exams for the first time ever in the light.