Kenya

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The Maasai Mara is a Kenyan game reserve famous for some big residents! Elephants, rhinos, zebras, buffalo and lions all live in the Mara.

Isokon Primary and Secondary School in the heart of the Maasai Mara, Kenya

However, the Maasai Mara is also home to the Maasai people. Carol and I were in the Mara having previously spoken with The Anne K. Taylor Fund, a private organisation which works to protect wildlife and tackle the issue of human-wildlife conflict in the reserve. With their help we were able to visit seven schools and two women groups with our solar lights.

One of the schools we visited was Isokon School. The school recently started a semi-boarding program to keep older pupils, who travel long distances, in school. Shockingly, the effects of kerosene lanterns, traditionally used for students to study by, could be seen on the ceiling of the class rooms.

One of the classrooms had particularly bad kerosene stains on the ceiling from where students had studied after sun down.

In order to reach the greatest number possible, we met with teachers and women's groups, who were ideally placed to distribute solar lights to families throughout the community. Below, you can see the excitement as we demonstrated the microsolar lights to the groups.

A community group, with Carol and Hudson, learning how to use solar lights.

I believe that our programs will have a real impact on this community. The Maasai travel long distances, risking their lives over land occupied by wild animals, in search for kerosene and mobile phone charging. They also burn a lot of wood to both cook and light their homes in the evening. Solar power, and the mobile phone charging function it provides, will allow them to light their homes and charge their phones without walking these huge distances, inhaling toxic fumes or spending their income on brutally expensive kerosene and candles.

Carol and hudson demonstrate solar lights to the community.

We learnt so much about the wonderful Maasai community and the wildlife that shares their land. For our safety, we were given armed escort during our visits, which we were happy about as we even had the chance to see lions at close range!

A Lion relaxing after a good meal!

Hudson

With your support we can continue to reach rural people in sub-Saharan Africa with clean and affordable solar power. Click here to make a donation.

We recently carried out site surveys in Makueni, a two and a half hour drive east of Nairobi. Being a semi-arid area, there are many challenges that the people there face, such as unpredictable rainfall leading to crop failure. Consequently, there is an acute shortage of food, sometimes to the extent that school feeding programmes are put into effect by the government. The area is also surrounded by poor roads and is cut off from the electricity grid.

Makueni is home to Kikongooni Primary School, a school that is based on top of a hill and only accessible by foot. The Head Teacher, Mr Peter Matolo, was so relieved to hear that they were to receive solar that he said he would be 'holding his breath' as we climbed the hill... but that it wouldn't be a problem because the whole community would help carry the equipment to the top of the hill.

Mr Matalo also said that, before solar his school was set to be disqualified because of the difficulties in access. Now the school will attract more pupils and teachers from within the community, which in turn will keep it running. Our hope is that it will not be raining during the installation because we have to cross a wide sandy river with no bridge before climbing the hill to the school...

Hudson

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Yesterday, I travelled to Naivasha, Kenya, with our Macrosolar Assistant, Hudson, to attend the official opening of East Africa's first solar panel factory!

Ubbink's staff member, Martin, explains the manufacturing process to Hudson.

This feels like a great step forward for the solar sector in East Africa. Years ago, together with a handful of like-minded individuals, I worked with community groups in Kenya and Tanzania to set up small scale solar manufacturing units, making 1 - 2 watt panels that powered radios and mobile phones. These were great projects but we always felt that to reach true scale, we would need to set up a high-tech manufacturing unit with a lot of finance behind it. So yesterday was an extra special moment as it looks like Ubbink have nailed it!

Joyce demonstrating the laser scribing process.

From what we saw and heard yesterday, Ubbink, together with its international partners and the Dutch Government, has set up a highly professional factory, which is manufacturing over 100 panels a day of various sizes - to European standards. And they look great.

Walking around the factory, I was impressed with the enthusiasm and knowledge of the staff working on the assembly line. They clearly know their stuff... and I could tell Hudson was impressed too as I had to work hard to tear him away at the end of the day!

Ubbink's solar panel factory in use.

Ubbink have already teamed up with local solar and batteries suppliers, Chloride Excide, so their panels will be available across Kenya and soon, the region. It's great to have panels made in East Africa, for East Africa. This feels like a landmark moment and it is hopefully just the beginning of greater investment in solar manufacturing for Africa.

There is so much sun here, so many skills and so many opportunities! It will be interesting to see how successful these solar panels become and if they can compete with international imports. Let's hope so!

John

For more information please visit http://www.ubbink.co.ke/

John Keane, Head of Programmes, started off as an urban planner before developing a deep interest in international development and solar energy. As a volunteer with Student Partnerships Worldwide in Tanzania, he became acutely aware of the pressing need for affordable, renewable energy in the rural communities. Once back in the UK, he researched the concept of micro solar and raised his own funds to go back to Africa and train solar entrepreneurs in Kenya, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Malawi and a number of other countries. He is the world leader on micro solar and a committed development expert.

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In July I visited Makueni High School with Microsolar Business Manager, Caroline and Microsolar Assistant, Bryan, as part of Education Day celebrations - an occasion which rewards teacher and student excellence.

The school is one of eight learning centres in Makueni District that we have identified as suitable for macrosolar installations. This means the installation of large solar panels to light classrooms, power laptop computers and charge mobile phones.

However, today we were using the celebrations to demonstrate portable microsolar systems to a packed audience of 4,000 villagers. These lights are used in homes to replace toxic and expensive kerosene or candles. They really do change lives, so it was a great feeling to reach so many students and adults with the power of solar.

Please have a look at some of my photos taken on the day below.

Thanks

Hudson

A huge crowd gathered and watched as we presented SunnyMoney microsolar lights.

Bryan (right) demonstrates household solar lights.

Makueni students performing a show for the huge crowd.

Makueni school received some of the best exam results in the area. Students received prizes for their success.

If you would like to support SolarAid's work so that we can continue to reach rural communities with clean and affordable light from the sun then please make a donation.

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Here's a little extra information about our health clinic solar installations on Oyamo Island and in the village of Osani, Lake Victoria.

Oyamo Island is a small fishing community with a population of about 3,000 people. The island's clinic had no lighting when we arrived and the gas-powered fridge for vaccines had long since fallen into disrepair. This meant that medicines were stored on the mainland - a one hour boat ride and another hour on the road. In total, a four hour round trip. What's more, if there was an emergency at night patients would have to provide their own lighting.

We were really pleased with the results, as were people in the local community, who can now use the systems to charge their mobile phones at a small cost compared to the previous hefty fee from the generator power supplier.

Please check out my pics below and Bryan's blog for much more on the project.

Hudson

Osani's newly installed solar fridge.

Oyamo Island's health centre mid-installation.

Arriving by boat: Local people volunteer to carry solar cargo up shore on Oyamo island.