October 2008 Archives

Greetings from Malawi! It has been an exhausting couple of weeks, but absolutely rewarding. I think we have achieved a lot and have a plan for moving forward.

I am getting a lot of positive feedback from beneficiaries and seeing wonderful things. One story is very uplifting and is what all the hard work is about...

On Monday we went to Chikwawa, near the end of the Old Rift Valley escarpment - tobacco country. We went to carry out a form of ethnography and arrived at dusk. As we approached, Saulos (a young enthusiastic entrepreneur) was waiting with his mother and sisters - under the light of an LED bulb hanging on the porch. We sat and ate a home-cooked dinner lit by another 'Muuni' ('light giver' in Chichewa, a name chosen in a competition organised by Carl). The family had taken the initiative to wire three of them up in series to the panel so that the system mimics grid connection. The light was really bright and they joyously told us how they have the light outside for security but also so everyone can see it- they wanted to show it off!

Over dinner they explained how they charge the panel (or 'Kadzuwa' meaning 'Little Sun' in Chichewa) everyday and leave it on all night - giving over 10 hours of light per day (we tried to build more awareness of energy efficiency - but Saulos was so pleased with it that he didn't want to turn it off!). Fiskani once even received a call from Saulos at 3am as he just wanted to tell him that it really works! As they were going to bed they took the outside light into the bedroom.

We then visited 5 more homes where families were using the panels and spent time speaking with them, and making observations.

A family in Chikwawa trying a solar lantern with a mobile phone

We came across no end of stories, including a tobacco farmer who was planning to use the light to bundle tobacco at night - meaning that he could get more work done in the day. We also saw how the households were making huge savings on kerosene, batteries and phone charging. From the numbers they gave us, I calculated that if they use the panel for all of its uses they save an average of almost 10,000K (around £35) a year, meaning that the panel should pay for itself in around 6 months.

Another striking comment was that they were so happy because now they could bring their children up in the same conditions as in the towns. There is a real sense of status and pride that comes with the product and having their own source of reliable energy.

A mobile phone charging under the sun in Chikwawa, Malawi.

The next morning, we ate breakfast as the children listened to educational programmes on the solar-powered radio! It was really wonderful to see the positive impact the product and all the hard work has had here in Malawi, with the SolarAid team and all the trained groups.

This a working and successful model and we are making a difference in people's lives. I will have much more to share on my return so more from me soon!

Katie