A preventable tragedy

It is with great sadness that SolarAid Tanzania announces the devastating news of a fatal fire that struck at Idodi Secondary School in Iringa on 22 August.

Over the weekend, a young student at Idodi was up late studying in her dormitory. The candle by her bedside - her only available light- was accidentally knocked over, catching fire to the mattress and tragically spreading quickly through the entire dormitory block, killing 12 young girls and injuring 20 others.

SolarAid knows Idodi School well. We installed a solar system on the main building in June of this year, and the Headmaster of the school, Mr Raymond Mlasu, has been one of our top partners. We at SolarAid Tanzania, along with the whole nation of Tanzania, grieve this tragic and preventable loss of life and commit to find sustainable solutions for solar lighting in school dormitories to avoid other preventable tragedies in the future.

Although the school underwent a solar installation earlier in the year, the dormitories were not covered by this. However, we felt it necessary to offer any assistance we could. Dennis Moshi (Tanzanian Technical Support), Beatrice Abad and myself contacted the school to offer all our condolences and support.

As the children will be accommodated in the classrooms and dining hall while funding is sought to rebuild the dormitory block, SolarAid Tanzania have donated a number of microsolar kits to allow the children to have light without the use of dangerous naked flames. The SolarAid team are due to meet with the Education Ministers and School Governors to negotiate the installation of a solar DC lighting system for the new dormitory.

Our hearts go out to all at Idodi and in the surrounding community.

Thank you,
Mason Huffine- Operations Manager, Tanzania

The national newspaper's headlines convey the tragic incident. On the left, SolarAid's letter of condolence to the school.