Lighting the Way to Education for Children
Lighting is essential to allow students to study. But what happens when no electricity is available to children?
In many communities where Food for the Hungry (FH) works in Kenya, the homes have no connection to electricity. Children often must help parents in their work and household tasks during the fleeting daylight hours after school.
Children Study in Darkness
It is typically dark by the time these young students are able to study at most times of the year. Without electricity, there has been no safe source of light in their homes after dark.
Many families turn to kerosene lanterns to light a small area for working after dark, but this source of light is neither clean nor safe. Dangerous fires are a constant threat, and the fumes and soot pollute the air inside of homes.
Light emitted by the lanterns is not effective or reliable for reading and school work. And, in addition to these inefficiencies, even these lanterns are not always available.
To enable children to study, access to sustainable lighting is an important key. These challenges were reducing the students’ performance quality in school, which in turn was causing students to drop out, reinforcing the cycle of poverty.
Solar Lamps Light the Darkness
Recently, FH Kenya purchased 90 solar-powered lamps and provided them to homes with school-aged children in three communities. Families receiving the lamps were in Segel, Manyatta Daaba, and Kubi Qallo – communities where electricity is still relatively uncommon.
The solar lighting addresses the challenges inherent to studying after dark.
Innovation Enhances Education for Children
“With this lighting, FH Kenya is changing the life of children in my school,” explained MW Hussen, head teacher at Manyatta Daaba primary school.
“The program is providing the lighting needed to allow students to study, learn, and complete their education, providing them a brighter future in every way! An education is one of the most important keys to lifting children out of poverty,” said Hussen.
“Now they have light to study, and this gives them the time to complete their homework and other assignments. So the power of education is now in the hands of the children themselves.”
Solar Lighting Brightens Education
FH Kenya provided the lighting needed to allow students to study, learn, and complete their education, providing them a brighter future in every way! All households whose children received solar lamps have eliminated the use of kerosene, Hussen said, adding: “Solar lamps made the hearts of children and their parents happy.”
“My life is also changed,” said the head teacher. “My hopes and dreams for the future are to see these children performing well and becoming leaders of tomorrow.
“I thank FH Kenya for these solar lamps that are making light in the darkness.”
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