We've just returned from a trip to Homboza, a small village 50km from Dar es Salaam and nowhere near the grid. This was my first visit out into the field and I was pretty much in awe of everything around me. It was such a great experience meeting the franchisees, hearing the villagers' stories and seeing the micro-solar products in action.

The road leading to rural Homboza.

We visited a number of typically rural homes and saw the micro-solar kits in action. Even in daylight it was easy to see the difference the lights would make to families - as it was pretty dark inside the house and the lamp totally lit up the room. One family explained that they used to spend 250 shillings per day on kerosene and 750 per week on batteries.

It was a great day all round, for me especially as it was the first time I had been out to the village and so to see the manifestation of everything I've read and learnt so far was really special. It fired me up all the more to be part of this fantastic project.

More from me again soon!

Claire Pedersen
Micro-franchise Co-ordinator

This photograph shows Mason, SolarAid Tanzania's Country Manager (on the move - fast!) in the foreground and Beatrice with our micro-solar demonstration pack in the background. And an elephant.

We are using a new demo system, which Dave Fryer (our Macrosolar Volunteer) kindly did a great job of designing and wiring.

The SolarAid Tanzania team outside the office at Dar es Salaam, with the new solar system that is now powering the office.

Ready to switch to solar power, here in the SolarAid office in Dar es Salaam.

Mason (left) and Miguel at the SolarAid office in London. Photo by Steve Woodward.

It was great to meet Mason in person, having spoken and emailed often, received his updates and seen so many pictures.

Solarising schools to prevent future tragedies

Mason updated me on news from Idodi Secondary School - the victim of last month's tragic fire.

Since Idodi, it has become apparent that this kind of incident is all too common in Africa. So the team are looking at different approaches to strategies for school dormitories in Tanzania. Our challenge now is ensuring we prevent future incidents like this one.

However, when there are hundreds of schools in rural Tanzania with no power, after sundown (around 6pm everyday) thousands of school children are left with no choice but to resort to candles if they wish to continue studying after the school day. And as long as candles are used, there will always be a high risk of burns or, worse, building-wide fires like the one at Idodi.

The tragic mass grave for the 12 young students of Idodi Secondary School who perished in the fire on 22 August.

One of SolarAid's missions is to increase access to safe, clean light in schools to deliver improved education standards. Until now, the focus has been on lighting the classrooms and school offices. But we're now working with Headmaster - Mr Raymond Mlasu - to design a system for the new dormitory block at Idodi.

Two options so far are a fixed lighting system plus portable micro-solar products for students to share. Or alternatively, a fixed system with 3 smaller study lights fixed in the corners of the dormitory. Either way, we will strive to find an appropriate lighting solution for the students at Idodi and beyond, so that after-dark study is made safe. Something that we take for granted in the west.

More about this worthwhile project soon,
Anna

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.

Curious about the western way of life, they are excited to learn about modern communication and technology, which they admire. They feel that to be better integrated into local community and the world at large they need access to lighting and communication.

The ability to read at night, listen to a radio or watch television (something which has been available to the developed world for almost a century now) will allow them to expand their horizons. Communication with friends and relatives through the use of mobile phones will enable their integration with the rest of the world. But all means for growth depend on technologies that of course require electricity.

While lifting a solar panel up onto the roof of a school, Dennis asked me: "Prof., do you think we are making a difference for this country and Africa by bringing solar energy to these schools in remote villages?"

As the sun shone onto the panel, I realised that ironically the wheels of a future renewable energy economy may be best started in developing world countries through humanitarian effort. Bringing renewable energy sources first to school children in poor countries is a basic expression of the highest humanitarian principle to help those in need. Development of renewable energy sources could be one of the efforts that bring the world together rather than dividing it.

The answer to Dennis's question came resoundingly when we officially handed the system over to the school's headmaster in front of the student assembly. The voice of jubilation from hundreds of students was a perfect expression of the gratitude for the gift of solar and more than that, for the opportunity to become more connected with the rest of humanity.

Slobodan

Photo: Andy Bodycombe

We were between the town called Iringa and Ruaha National Park, a world-famous game reserve. Here, 30 miles away from the nearest electricity line and paved roads, time seems to be standing still and the world as we know it is very far away. There are no TVs or video games here, the children don't have cell phones and they don't listen to popular music. They don't wear designer clothes and they have never heard of any movie stars or famous singers. The days pass by in simple graceful existence, quiet curiosity, and unspoilt joy for life.

With the rest of the installation crew, Wambura, Fred, Morris and Matola we made an unforgettable journey to complete solar installations on eight schools. Kiwere, Idodi, Isalavanu, Zadraz, Ullembwe, Ikuna... We made our way through the Iringa region in 19 days with the hope that the lives of thousands of children will be changed for many years to come.

Please support us and help SolarAid bring solar to more schools in Tanzania.

It is especially our 'Microsolar Home Kits' that are in such high demand here. Last week, we went to visit a school with twelve units and the teachers bought ten of them. People love these kits because they give them access to portable electricity and light at a very low price. We get so much good feedback on the effect these kits have on their quality of life.

On my way back with Beatrice, the local administrator and translator, we were stopped by two armed policemen who asked us for a ride. They often do this to avoid taxi fares. Beatrice started talking to them in Swahili and before we dropped them off they had bought the remaining two kits, leaving us empty handed!

In other news, the 200 solar panels that were donated to us have arrived at the port of Tanzania, so I'm busy dealing with the customs officials to release them. Once this hurdle is overcome, we can start installing them on healthclinics.

These solar panels are bigger and more expensive, but from what I've seen in similar projects, they make a huge difference in the number of lives saved. We plan to install on 30 clinics in the next couple of years.

Just the other day, a woman came into a clinic severely injured and because the facility had a solar panel and was able to store refrigirated blood, her life was saved with a transfusion. This woman would not be alive now were it not for the panel on the roof.

This story demonstrates how solar can literally be a life saver. Please help in our mission of getting solar onto more clinics in rural Tanzania and support SolarAid today.

Thank you,
Mason

There are 10 schools in the Iringa region, 3 in the coastal area north of Dar es Salaam and the remaining in the south, covering most of the country.

All of those schools are off-grid. Some had been powered by cost-intensive generators that often broke down, others used kerosene lamps for lighting and coal and wood for cooking. Few with no access to any kind of lighting at all.

With every installation completion there is a village celebration.

The villagers and school chilren come together in singing and dancing to express gratitude and joy. The tangible effects of solar power and the difference it can make to their every day lives is now impressively clear.

The ceremony is their way of saying 'thank you' and inaugurating their improved facilities. This enthusiasm always makes me smile inside and out, but this week I was also given a chicken!

I was advised to take the long way home that night to avoid kidnapping. Driving in my beaten up little car through the rain and muddy terrain, I could hear the chicken clucking away and flying around at every dirt road bump, making my heart jump.

I felt a great sense of achievement and pride in SolarAid's work that day. Onwards and upwards- there's still plenty of work to do. Please support us and help SolarAid bring solar to more schools in Tanzania.

Thank you,

Mason
Country Operations Manager,
SolarAid Tanzania

The second school we visited has over 300 pupils and just four teachers! It is an amazing place, only a couple of years old- so still in the midst of building. Some of the classrooms are even being used as dormitories, as it is a boarding school.

As well these two school visits I also had preliminary meetings with some local health representatives to discuss installations on medical clinics in rural areas and Slobodan and I also addressed a group of 20 young people who have just finished internships with the European Commission. We talked for an hour about different types of renewable power sources and where they work, the energy sector in Tanzania versus other countries and the energy mix for the future.

On Friday morning, Slobodan and I met the Regional Health Officer for this area, Dr Gabone. It was all very positive and Slobodan and I left feeling quite jubilant. Dr Gabone is extremely keen on solar power in rural clinics and dispensaries, as power is a serious issue. Upwards of 50% of the population in rural areas is HIV positive, so blood samples must be taken regularly and refrigerated, lab equipment must be run and medicines and vaccines must be stored. Without power for these basic functions, clinics cannot run effectively.

As can imagine, importing of fuel for a generator is not an easy or cheap option so a solar system, with no consumables, is ideal.

Helen

Mason, Operations Manager for SolarAid Tanzania, arrived on Tuesday along with the macro-solar Project Manager Dennis and the newest recruit to the SolarAid Tanzania team, Slobodan who was formerly Professor of Renewable Energy at Arizona State University. Slobodan is volunteering with SolarAid for the next six months.

Left to right: Dennis, Slobodan, me and Mason. Iringa region, Tanzania

Up until now, my trip has been focused almost entirely on micro-solar...selling panels and devices with a maximum output of about 2w. However, SolarAid is also developing two further macro-solar projects.

Thankfully, SolarAid has secured funding to enable a 90% subsidy of the installation and panel costs for approximately 80 schools. And will soon hopefully secure funding to do the same thing for 30 health clinics. The latter has been helped enormously by the donation of 200 panels from Slobodan's old university!

Me giving a micro-solar demonstration to school children of Iringa.

There are a lot more than 80 schools in the Iringa area alone, all of which would benefit from solar installations. So, sites have to be selected carefully, based on criteria such as their proximity to power lines, their commitment to education of their pupils in renewable energy, whether the roofs of the building are heavily shaded and many other factors.

Site selection involves a site visit and most of the schools are pretty hard to find. Add to this the fact that the Iringa region alone stretches several hundred kilometres in every direction - so the site visits alone will take some time!

More about the site visits in my next blog soon.

Helen

One of the great things about Neema Crafts is the support it gives its employees. First thing yesterday I tagged along with Destory, one of the managers at Neema, to meet Kasim at the police station. He was there to file a report on what had happened. The photo below shows people standing around the bike wondering what to do.

Destory (left). Kasim is seen sitting on the floor behind his bike.

Thankfully, Kasim is okay. We hope the driver will agree to pay for a new bike, though this will take time. If he doesn't agree it will take even longer and we would have to take him to court.

We are continuing working in the solar workshop. SolarAid Tanzania's manager Mason is here this week. I'm very excited as I will have the opportunity to visit some of the schools selected for macro-solar installations. These will certainly take me off the beaten track!

More from me soon,
Helen
(Scottish and Southern Energy volunteer for SolarAid)

SSE employee Helen Dalgliesh tests the output of microsolar panels with SolarAid's Head of Programmes John Keane in the office at Dar es Salaam

Read Helen's update and thoughts from Southern Tanzania so far...

"I am now safely in the town of Iringa in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. I travelled up yesterday, on a bus that took about 8 hours. I was lucky. The journey was pretty smooth as the road we followed was the main route from Tanzania to Zambia so metalled all the way.

Typically, the most dangerous thing I have encountered so far has been the roads. Some of the over-taking manoeuvres carried out yesterday were so much worse than anything I have ever seen in the UK.

The views from the bus were fantastic - finally, I have seen zebra, impala, giraffe and monkeys in their natural environment. For one hundred or so kilometres we followed the great Ruaha River (the tailrace of the Mtwere hydro station...) so climbing out of the valley and looking across to the green forested mountains beyond was fabulous.

The photo above shows my first power station construction. Huge at 6W! This is enough to charge a mobile phone and batteries though, and it allows us to do some testing of the realistic output from the cells, plus the charge lifetime of the batteries with the devices that they use here.

Once I arrived at Iringa it wasn't long before I met the people of Neema Crafts which is where I will spend my time. I'm very excited about getting started!"

Thanks to Slobodan, Dr. Mani G. Tamizh-Mani and the rest of the team at the Photovoltaic Testing Laboratory we will soon be receiving several large panels for school and clinic installations.

There should be around 200 macro-solar panels as well about 15 boxes of solar-related books for school libraries plus a large assortment of solar testing equipment and tools - pretty exciting stuff for all the solar geeks out here!

A woman by the mysterious name of 'B' from Ryan World Shipping also gave us a preferential shipping rate to get it all out here.

If that's not enough, recently arrived in the office is a donation from a Canadian company, Carmanah Technologies Corp, who sent us just over 900 micro-solar panels! Thank you to Len and Julie for organising this. We hope to integrate these into our micro-solar and education programmes very soon.

Hello Sunshine! Mason greets the donation of micro-solar panels with a smile

You can all see how happy this has made Mason, Tanzania's Operations Manager. Not to mention the positive impact this donation will make on all the school children, rural communities and entrepreneurs across Tanzania who we'll be reaching.

It's wonderful to see that our work is inspiring partners like these to support us. You too can support our work and help us get more panels onto more schools in rural, poverty-stricken areas.

Thank you,
Courtney