ChildFund provides solar electric power worth $45,000 USD to 939 students and teachers in 3 schools in Koinadugu District, northern Sierra Leone

ChildFund, through Light for Education, (LIFE) Solar Electrification project, has provided and handed over solar-electricity power facilities worth $45,000 USD to 3 schools, Movement of Faith Junior Secondary School in Koinadugu 2, DEC Primary School, Senekedugu community WaraWara Yagala chiefdom and DEC Primary school Malaforia community in Sengbeh chiefdom, Koinadugu district, northern Sierra Leone.

LIFE is an addendum component of a parent Integrated Community Action for Protection and Education (CAPE) project that ChildFund has been implementing in partnership with Daindemben Federation, since 2021, in Koinadugu District. The CAPE project is funded by ChildFund Korea.

The goal of LIFE project is to ensure that teachers and pupils in selected schools in Koinadugu District have access to clean and renewable energy to improve learning outcomes and increase protection. A total of 393 students (boys and girls) across 3 communities now have access to clean and uninterrupted renewable energy, running at 5000 Watts, which is equivalent to a 5KVA generator power supply, in each of the schools.

All 3 solar facilities installed in the schools have automatic transfer switch system (ATS). An ATS is a self-acting electrical device that switches between your primary and backup power source when the primary fails. Having an ATS installed with your solar-powered home ensures you get continuous power without the need to manually switch from solar to the grid or vice versa.

Isatu Venn, ChildFund’s Programs Director, says (during the launch of the project) that: ''The solar power installed in the school will contribute to improve teaching and learning outcomes and pave the way for the introduction and use of technological innovations and gadgets that would aid teaching and learning in the selected schools.’’

Mariama, a class 5 student from Senekedugu said: ''this facility is already helping us in our school and community. We now have somewhere to study with a 24-hour light. Before now, when it rained, the place got dark, and we could hardly see what’s on the board. Now, when that happens, we simply just turn on the light, and we are okay to continue our lessons.’’ Currently, it’s rainy season across the country, but Mariama and her classmates do not have to worry anymore.

At Malaforia community, Tigi Mansaray, women’s leader, Malaforia community, said this about the solar power facility: ‘’Our community had long been lighted by ChildFund and Daindemben through education interventions. It’s like we were in the dark, but those education interventions opened our eyes. Now our children are doing well academically.’’ The solar light provided by ChildFund, she added, : ‘’is an additional light.’’

In most communities nowadays, teachers have android phones. ‘’With this solar power installed, teachers can now charge their phones via the solar facilities provided. They can use their phones to do research on some topics if there is internet connectivity,’’ says teacher Conteh from Koinadugu 2 community.

ChildFund does development work with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in mind. The LIFE project is a step towards contributing to the attainment of SDG Goal 7, which is about ensuring access to clean and affordable energy. This is key to the development of agriculture, business, communications, education, healthcare, and transportation.

‘’Electricity is one enabling factor for improving learning outcomes and letting student have a mastery of their schoolwork,’’ said Emmanuel V. Deoud. Development Partners’ Desk Officer, Ministry of Basic and Senior Secondary Education (MBSSE), during the handing over ceremony of the solar facilities.

ChildFund has education as one of its key priorities in the 24 countries where we operate globally. The lack of access to energy hinders education. 

Mohamed Sesay, Section Chief Bendugu section, Sengbeh Chiefdom, said: ‘’ChildFund is like a river full of water distributed across communities. We are happy to have had the opportunity (once again) to get our own cup of water from the river. This will help in our children’s education.’’