As part of my microsolar prototype research I spent two days meeting with local villagers in Kitui to demonstrate the potential of solar power using our solar cinema, train entrepreneurs, and to gain some valuable feedback regarding microsolar practice.
We stopped in Kitui West Market to set up the Solar Roller which comes equipped with a solar powered projector for an evening of live football. The match was Uruguay vs. Netherlands. The whole village seemed to have turned up - impressive considering they would usually be asleep by 9pm or 10pm and the match didn't start until 9.30pm! Most of the village stayed right until the end to watch Uruguay win 3-2, including seven year old Joshua and his friends who were keeping warm in the back of the Solar Roller (see above).
Before the match we took the opportunity to advertise our products, everyone was interested. Showing the bright Ravi light at night generated enthusiasm and we got a lot of attention. It also gave me a chance to test out my prototypes.
The following day we held a training session in Kitui for 12 new SunnyMoney entrepreneurs. There was a good mix of men and women of all ages. Each had been through our SunnyMoney challenge process to find and demonstrate support from local villagers for their new roles as franchisees. It was a long day of training in troubleshooting, marketing, solar power and business skills but was gratefully received. We left them with a demo product each and marketing materials to help drum up sales. It was great to see so many enthusiastic entrepreneurs!
For the final blog covering my experience in Kenya I have uploaded some images of the Naitiri school children settling down in front of our solar cinema.
Cinema is a fantastic way to demonstrate the capabilities of solar - the spectacular visuals bring home just how much energy is at their disposal with macrosolar.
We held the solar cinema for students and teachers of Naitiri Friends School inside a church next to the school. The church was packed with eager and very excited young people who relished the opportunity to watch a film, most for the first time.
Afterwards, I conducted some voxpop interviews with students streaming out of the church, still beaming from their enthralling experience. I asked several of the students about solar energy and what they thought it was.
"Solar energy is from the sun and we can convert for power"
Another student said:
"We have lots of sunshine here but no means of power. Solar panels will help our school and community as solar energy will provide power for free!"
After visiting Mbalako Secondary School (see my two blogs below) I headed to Naitiri Friends School in North Bungoma District. It is a less developed and smaller school than Mbalako but, like Mbalako, it has recently enjoyed the benefits of having a solar lighting system installed.
I met with three fourth formers including the headboy Maxwell. Two of the three students told me that they wanted to be doctors or work in pharmaceuticals and the third wanted to be a nurse. Their principal, a lady called Rose, whose subject is Physics, is a strong solar advocate and was particularly excited to have solar power systems installed at her school.
The school has taken the interesting and enterprising decision to hand the management of the income generation from the solar system over to its Business Studies students rather than to teachers or a committee. This is a great way for students to understand the importance of enterprise, to learn about issues and problems that arise from running a small business and, most importantly, how to overcome these problems.
The school charges 5Ksh (0.05p) to students and teachers and 10Ksh to (1p) outsiders in the community for phone charging. They plan to find a means of advertising the service more widely amongst the community in the near future. They also told me about their idea of offering a photocopying service to the people of Naitiri to increase the income from the system.
For Naitiri Friends School, whose motto is 'rising to the top is our goal', it seems the sky is literally the limit.
Anna
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In my last blog I wrote about how Mbakalo Secondary School had embraced its newly-acquired solar system. Mr Murutu is proud to be the physics teacher at Mbakalo. He's been at the school for 14 years and was eager to tell me how the solar power has had a positive impact on the school.
"Students are completing assignments on time, they are also happier. I am happier too because it is making my job easier."
Mr Murutu went on to say:
"The students are so intrigued about the solar panels. They ask many questions. Science lessons, especially physics, are now much more practical. Before, it was all theoretical and some concepts were hard for the students to grasp. The solar has helped bring science to life!"
This has had an interesting knock-on effect. Seeing solar in action; and seeing the power of electricity has lead to an increased number of students enrolling to study physics. Career choices are shifting too from humanitarian-based careers to more practical vocations. At least two students I spoke to told me they wanted to be electrical engineers.
The impact on teachers
The Head of Humanities, Mr Chobolla, told me: "We can stay longer after the school day to complete marking and plan our lessons. Typing is easier too with light and we can even charge our mobile phones."
It is clear that the students and teachers feel an enormous sense of pride for the system. The students especially are very curious; they want to learn more about renewable energy generally and are eager to get solar lighting in their homes.
And it goes beyond secondary education too. The system has had a broader impact on the community as whole.
"Having the solar has really raised the profile of Mbakalo School in the community. We are a good showcase to the community, demonstrating how solar works and how it can have a strong, positive impact"
More from the teachers and students at Mbakalo in my next update.
Yesterday I spent the day with SolarAid's new patron Cherie Blair. We visited the Kibera slums outside Nairobi and we involved her in the interview process for franchisees. Mrs Blair is visiting Kenya and Malawi to see how her Foundation (The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women) is working with SolarAid to unlock the economic potential of women where the need for access to energy is greatest. Mrs Blair came away extremely impressed by the work being done, but also very aware of the challenges involved in setting up enterprise operations in the poorest sectors of society.
Cherie Blair with Sunny Money Franchisee Romonah Omukhobero in Kibera. March 2010.
From my point of view, interviewing the franchisee candidates was another vivid reminder of the daily grind that most people here face just to survive, and of why we set up SolarAid as a response to this. All the candidates have experience of running their own small businesses (mainly vegetable stalls), but face serious challenges such as intense competition, poor quality produce and lack of working capital, which is why the Sunny Money programme is so interesting to them.
All in all, a successful week. There is still more to do of course, but it's encouraging to know we're certainly heading in the right direction.
Nick.
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