Solar Panel Project Update

This update is long overdue and for that I apologize. Do not attribute the delay to a lack of gratitude to those who donated to the solar panel project, but rather to my intermittent internet access and to the fact that the project itself took longer than expected to realize. However, I can’t be completely let off the hook, for I could have easily written this update during one of my visits to the city months ago. 

Issouf checks out his book under proper lighting

To briefly recap the project, we provided a lighted study area on school grounds using solar energy. The need was simple but could be overlooked by those who have never lived in a primitive village lacking electricity (this would include every person I have ever known before coming to Africa). The average village courtyard lacks basic study necessities such as a light source, tables, chairs, and sometimes even a cement floor. To further exacerbate the problem, distractions such as roaming chickens and goats, crying babies, and never-ending domestic housework also prevent students from effectively studying. Creating a work place at the school gives the students a sanctum where their studies take unabated priority.

Funding for the project (~5000USD) became available to me in September 2011. To save money, I went to the city myself to buy the materials. With the help of two trusted professors who speak the local tribal language and know the lay of the land, we were able to buy all the materials at roughly 500USD under budget. Buying the materials was the easy part. The 150K transport, half of which on BUMPY dirt roads, was the real challenge. In a bind, I approached the boss of an Australian gold mine based in a neighboring village. After having explained my situation, he agreed to let me tag along in a land rover during one of their weekly trips to the city. One the way back, we transported free of charge four bulky solar panels, three heavy batteries and a big box of fragile light bulbs. Without their help, I would have been facing a potentially dangerous and certainly costly transportation nightmare. I extend my gratitude to my friends at Griffon gold mine.

Having a part-time librarian increases drastically the amount of time that that the library is open to students. Excess project money was used to buy reference books (right cabinet).

In the weeks following the arrival of the materials deep in the African wilderness, an electrical technician, carpenter, metallurgist and a clumsy American all played their role to properly electrify four classrooms (two more than originally planned), the community library, and the administration building. Installed and still in functioning order are four 120W solar panels mounted to rooftops, three batteries, 35 light bulbs and 400m of electrical wire. I now have a new respect for construction managers, a profession in the future I will avoid like the plague.

Before listing the immediate benefits of the project, I should explain that in order for the project to be approved, the community had to donate 25% of the project’s total cost. Approximately 5000USD was received from donors obligating the community to contribute 1750USD. In underdeveloped countries, community contributions such as this rarely take the form of hard up-front cash. In our case, the APE (French equivalent to PTA) signed an engagement committing them to employ as long as the solar panels are in working order a guardian and a librarian. The guardian prevents theft and the librarian assures that the library doors are open students nearly around the clock. Not only did the project create a study place for the students, but it also created two jobs that in turn ensure the sustainability, durability and maximal utilization of this study environment created by the project.

Here is a short list of successes and challenges:

Successes

• ·         4 classrooms illuminated and open to students until 10PM Mon-Sat
• ·         Library illuminated and open to students 7AM-10PM Mon-Sat
• ·         Guardian Employed
• ·         Library Employed
• ·         Administration building illuminated allowing administrator s to work at night, charge laptops, and use printer
• ·         Energy available to run photo-copy machine set to arrive next year
• ·         Leftover funds used to construct 6 outdoor blackboards facilitating group study

Mason repaints blackboard in library to eliminate glare.

Challenges

• ·          Dust accumulation on the solar panels mounted to the rooftops temporarily created insufficient energy supply. Solution: Had ladder made and guardian cleans panels weekly
• ·         Insects crawl into light bulb casings frying circuits. (4 of 8 external lights fried within 4 months – not a problem with internal lights) Solution: Testing new model of light
• ·         Some of the kids, like most kids in the states, need to be dragged into the library kicking and screaming. It is really frustrating to see students failing all their classes because they cannot adequately speak, write, or express themselves in French when the library is readily available to all of them. They do not speak French at home or among friends. The only time most kids use French is in the classroom where students primarily copy from the board. With all the harm that television causes in the states, it does serve as a source of not-stop language exposure which kids here do not have. Despite reading competitions and frequent encouragement in the classroom to use the library, the majority of the students fail to recognize its’ true value. 

School-wide concours de lecture (reading competition) acts as an incentive to bring kids to read. Notice most of the paper is blank as participation has been lower than expected.

After installation was completely finished, we found that we completed the project at roughly 400USD under budget. This was even after we illuminated 4 classes instead of the 2 originally planned. The extra money was used to build 6 outdoor blackboards on which students can work in groups to complete homework assignments. To date, all of the money has still not been spent. The remaining funds will be used to by replacement light bulbs, benches to accompany the outdoor blackboards and possibility a replacement battery to place in reserve for when one of the batteries die. 

Confused students....

No worries! Mr. Josh is here to save the day with the help of outdoor blackboards paid for with project money. Unseen, light above allows students to use blackboard at night. I apologize for minimal pictures. I don't own a camera

I would like to say thank you again to all of those who donated to the project. To Bryant, Danielle, Kyle and Elwell, your generosity was received by me as a warm gesture from home when family and friends seemed far away. To the donor who anonymously funded the majority of the project, I am humbled by such generosity in the absence of the slightest recognition. The students of Loumana will long remember and benefit from your gift.

 A letter from the students of Loumana:

Nous vous remercions de votre offre. Maintenant, nous arrivons à bien étudier dans la nuit et dans la calme. Nous n’avons plus de dérangement comme nous étudions à la maison avec des torches, des lumières faibles et les dérangements des enfants. Mais avec votre aide, ca nous encourage de bien travailler pour préparer pour notre examen. Nous souhaitons que votre travaille s’avance bien et que vos besoins s’accomplissent.

Signée :

Koné Lassina

Konkobo Inoussa

Zongo Adama

Au nom des tous les élèves

English translation: 

 

We say thank you for your gift. Now, it is possible to effectively study at school at night and in the calm.

We no longer have the distractions like there are at home with flashlights, weak lighting, and the annoying children.But your help encourages us to work hard to prepare for our big exam at the end of the year.

We wish that your work goes well and that all your needs are met.

Signed:

Koné Lassina

Konkobo Innoussa

Zango Adama

In the name of all the students