Project Detail

Technology Transfer to Island Communities: Solar Energy and Computers for Turtle Islands Primary Schools at Moot, Nyangai and Chepu

The project aims at transferring technology to Sierra Leone?s most left out communities ? Turtle Islands- in terms of education, medical facility, electricity, clean water and communication. It will provide solar power and desktop computers for two Island primary schools and provide solar lamps to over 50 households.

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Project Snapshot

Grantee:

Reptile and Amphibian Programme Sierra Leone

Country:

Sierra Leone

Area Of Work:

Climate Change Mitigation

Operational Phase:

OP5-Y3 (Jul 13 - Jun 14)

Grant Amount:

US$ 30,000.00

Co-Financing Cash:

Co-Financing in-Kind:

US$ 2,000.00

Project Number:

SLE/SGP/OP5/ CORE/CC/14/02/43

Start Date:

3/2014

End Date:

10/2014

Status:

Satisfactorily Completed

Project Characteristics and Results

Gender Focus

In order to ensure gender mainstreaming, the project will involve women in both the meetings and trainings. In the communities, it is not clear how locals will look at it but they will be encouraged to include women in the management process of the solar materials. In the education and sensitization meetings and workshops, the involvement of women will be of priority. The project coordinator will ensure that for every meeting the ratio of men to women is at least 60:40 and in every deliberation, women will be given priority. In the schools, teachers will ensure the participation with priority of girls in the computer classes. Since they will be provided three computers per school, the teachers will be encourage to always try hard to maintain the ratio 1:2 during exercises.

Capacity - Building Component

It is widely known that creating the use of solar energy seems to be one of the best options available in using clean energy. Much of the problems faced by the world are the change in the climate and this is posing a serious threat to our planet. The carbon dioxide emission levels generated by the constant use of fossil fuel are literally killing our planet. Using solar energy will not only provide clean environment but a life where we will not have to constantly worry about the infinite resources to provide us with the basic comforts of our life. With the ever so reasonably priced solar technology and the ultimate willingness to change this situation around, one can augment the energy competence of his/her home, and in due course accomplish net zero fossil fuel expenditure and utilization. By this one will also save the planet from dying out by using solar energy. With these facts established in the communities, it is hoped that the solar equipment will serve to be a cherish resource. The fact establishing process will include community education/sensitization meetings before and after the installation of the solar facilities and the distribution of the solar lamps. The objectives of the two sets of workshops are to initially get the views of the locals about energy utilization, cost involve and know whether they will prefer energy where one don?t have to worry about its future availability. Once this is known, the solar equipment will be installed and follow-up workshops conducted for the verification of the importance of solar energy and it environmental cleanliness.

Notable Community Participation

More than 200 students and 10 teachers will directly benefit from the successful implementation of the project while about 1000 locals from the various communities will benefit from the use of the solar lamps and solar electricity through the charging of phones and getting their children trained in the use of computers. The children will have the opportunity of using computers and playing education games at schools alongside the teachings they may have in different subject areas. Since the solar energy supply is infinite, the solar equipment will remain in the communities as long as they are able to maintenance and make better use of the energy generated. Based on the number of households of pupils, it is likely that some other communities will benefit from the solar facility. The computers will alleviate the problem of having to send to Freetown to print report cards or teachers having to write examination questions on blackboards since all will be done in their schools. For the three immediate communities, locals will be briefed about the goal and objectives of the project and asked for their support in the effort of sustainable utilization of the materials that will be provided in their communities and also educated on the hazards caused by batteries, oil spills in both their communities and the sea. Education/sensitization workshops will be conducted on both finite and infinite energy sources. They will also be part of the training process during the solar installations. The School authorities will be in charge of the equipment that will be provided and they will be informed that the equipment will remain with them as long as they are able to take care of them and undertake maintenance. Failing to take care of maintenance shall lead to the withdrawal of the equipment and relocated elsewhere. This way we think they will pay attention to the monitoring and maintenance of the equipment. Parents will be asked to take care of the solar lamps that will be provided their children. Any manhandling shall lead to the withdrawal of the lamp from their children. A charging facility will be provided at the schools for locals to charge their phones or other equipment at reasonable costs. The proceeds from such activities will be monitored by school authorities and used towards the maintenance of the equipment.

Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment

Result of the project will include solar electricity in two primary schools and an eco-lodge in turtle islands, solar lamps for all pupils per households, six computers for two schools, two teachers trained in computer uses and more than 50% of pupils able to start-up a desktop computer and identify some key peripherals including keyboard, mouse, printers, speakers, CDs, DVD etc. The results will be posted at RAP-SL website including the methodology of setting up solar energy in coastal communities. It is hoped the materials and the energy source provided for the communities will last for more 10 years during which more 500 students will have benefited from the resources and more than 1000 community members would have acknowledged the importance of solar energy.

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