Solar Program

PORTABLE SOLAR LANTERN TECHNOLOGY AND

HOME SOLAR KITS

October 2021 - April 2022

 
 
 

Theory of Change - Portable Solar Lanterns & Home Solar Kits

BACKGROUND

Access to electricity is an unmet need in large areas of rural Tanzania. Efficient and easy-to-use systems of solar-generated energy have recently been optimized for rural home installation and use, as well as portable solar lantern technology.

LFAS BELIEVES THAT SOLAR PROGRAMS SHOULD CONTAIN BOTH HOME SOLAR KITS AND PORTABLE SOLAR LANTERN TECHNOLOGY TO BE MOST ACCESSIBLE AND EFFECTIVE

Through this program Lalafofofo-Amka Sasa installed individual “solar kits” in traditional homes (“bomas” in local Kiswahili) in remote areas of the Maasailand in Kilimanjaro region, such as Tindigani village, as well as distributing portable solar lanterns to primary school students.

Umeme (electricity) in this community will boost quality of life by increasing access to cell phones and thereby personal security, as well as lengthen the day for cooking and homework. This program will also provide recipients with new skill sets in maintaining the solar kits. To learn more about this program read our 2020 report on solar technology and electricity access in rural Tanzania.

 
 
 
 

Goals of Portable Solar Lanterns

  1. Provide access to a source of electricity to the most remote and impoverished partner community.

  2. Increase day-light hours for homework and household chores.

Impact

Portable solar lanterns distributed to primary students in Standards 4 & 7 can significantly improve national exam test results because a source of light at home at night allows for more studying.

Students with portable solar lanterns

 
 

Goals of Home Solar Kits

  1. Provide access to electricity to most remote and impoverished partner community.

  2. Increase day-light hours for homework and household chores.

  3. Empower female community members by selecting solar-kit recipients who are second wives with children.

  4. Improve home security from wild animals.

Impact

This project installed 133 solar home systems and employed 5 locals through 6 months of active installations. Originally, the program was planned to continue to be serviced for 5 years, however, it is still going strong.

By developing a lean-data survey system, LFAS furthered a trusted relationship with the community and developed a more direct pipeline for Maasai community partner feedback on the solar kits.

See below for recipient testimonials.

Justin, one of our Program Managers, installing a solar kit on the roof with kids in the background watching him.

Program Manager, Justin Mtunga, installing kit on roof.

 
 
 

Funding of Home Solar Kits

In October 2020 a $34K grant was received to start a Solar Installation project in Tindegani village for November 2020 to August 2021! Thank you to Makers4Good and Amped Innovation for all their work on this project.

Home Solar Kit Testimonials

A mother standing in front of her home with her baby.

“There is no problem with the light, inside and out. I turn the outside light on from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Thank you so much! The outside light really helps me with my goats, and the kids use it too.” - Stella Noah

A mother standing in from of her home with her three children.

“We are so blessed to get this light everywhere - there is no more darkness, and we are so happy!” - Neema Mayaka

A Maasai mama holder her baby in front of a partially-built traditional home.

"I am thankful for the aid of solar. There was one light with a problem, but it's was fixed and the solar works very well. I turn on the light from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thank you so much!” - Rehema Ezeke