Teachers and Students at Pinga Primary School posing with their new solar lights
On July 13th, 2011 a group of students helped offload boxes full of solar lights enter one of the class rooms of Pinga Primary School in Kerege, Bagaymoyo District, Tanzania. The teachers and students gladly received the 100 Barefoot Power Pack Junior donated by Dissigno Tanzania, which is the affiliate of Dissigno USA, based in San Francisco, California . The lights are portable and therefore can be carried home by the students and used as a safe reliable source of light that they can use to do their homework or other activities. In addition to the having safe light the solar lanterns will help the school to generate an income which will be a needed to improve its facilities.
A committee member organizes the lights, solar panels and batteries
In the office there is a list for the number of desks, tables, books, and so on that the school needs and how much money they need in order to buy it. To reach their target, the lights will be rented out to the students for 100 tsh per day (Approximately 6 cents US per day) and 200 tsh per day on the weekend. The lights will be stored and charged on school grounds where they can be easily managed.
Carla Acosta, a Canadian intern with ARTI, poses with a teacher and their bouquets of solar lamps
In order to coordinate the charging centre and manage the money a committee was formed of both students and teachers. The students that were selected by the teachers to be part of the committee are Hafidhi Ambali (VII), Pili Zuberi (VI), Neema Mtugani (VII), Joyce Johni (VII), and Ali Ngozi (V). The teachers are David Mbogela, Singano Rajabu, and the principal Halima Salumu.
ARTI-TZ Executive Director, Nachiket Potnis, explains technical details in Kiswhili to committee members
Setting up the solar lights was a collaboration of three American volunteers Eric, Oliva, and Hana representing Dissigno Tanzania, Carla Acosta from Canada, along with all the members of the committee. During the preparation the students and teachers were taught by Nachiket Potnis, Executive Director of ARTI-TZ , how to use and maintain the solar lights.