Students at St. Tereza Kajaguzo Primary School
Brick by Brick Uganda is excited to be partnering with We Share Solar to bring light to un-electrified schools in the Rakai and Kyotera Districts.
With the national examination period fast approaching, any time lost by the students or teachers is painful. The uncertainties in weather can make learning a game of chance, because if it rains heavily, lessons will often be cancelled because all windows and doors have to be closed to prevent rain from getting into the classrooms. This leaves the classrooms in complete darkness with nothing to do until the rain stops.
For 14 year old Robinah seen in the video below, moving closer to the school was a decision made to help her concentrate on her studying and class work without worrying about trekking the long distances back to her home. She has not realized her full potential because in spite of staying near the library, at a female teacher’s home, she still cannot utilize the library after hours or before class because the school does not have access to electricity.
Why We Share Solar?
We Share Solar grew out of the innovative Berkeley-based organization We Care Solar which provides sustainable solar power to maternity units throughout the developing world. While working with the health facilities in rural Rakai, a team from the Babies And Mothers Alive Program secured the support of We Care Solar and we are now working together to help light every birth to reduce complications during childbirth caused by absence of light.
Brick by Brick has since been introduced to We Share Solar, creating a partnership to provide solar power for classrooms, libraries, dormitories and teacher housing for the primary and secondary schools with whom we work. With this initiative we hope to improve conditions for studying, increase academic achievement and student retention. We Share Solar provides solar suitcases that are built for long term performance even in harsh rural areas with the ability to provide light and charging facilities.
Students discover the power of the sun with the We Share Solar Suitcase
We Share Solar has an innovative model. They train North American teachers and students to build the solar suitcases, providing an exciting learning experience in science and technology. So We Share Solar is a true partnership between students and teachers separated by an ocean but sharing a common vision of a quality education for all. We are very excited to be working with We Share Solar on this new venture. Watch this video and see the difference that this partnership will make in 2018!