Projects Portfolio

Improving Access to Clean Water and Sanitation in Umuahia Ohekelem

 in Projects Portfolio

Received funding from 2023 R8/HTB Community Support Program.

Country

Federal University of Technology Owerri SB SIGHT Group (SBA29081S)

Sustainable Development Goals

Summary

The proposed solar-powered water scheme is aimed at improving access to clean and portable water in Umuahia Ohekelem locality. The need for improved access to clean water is necessary to human well-being. This is because notable well-being indicators (good food, sanitation and hygiene) are predicated on the availability of water. For the proposed project, a solar energy-powered water scheme is proposed to replace an abandoned old water borehole that was powered generator which is no longer in functional. In plain terms, there is an existing water well that was in use before. The problem with the old water was the village could not fund the procurement of new generator and replace the leaking tanks. Now, the well will be rehabilitated, and a solar-energy compatible pump will be installed on it. In addition, new tanks will be procured and mounted. Also, other parts of the water scheme will be overhauled. The project location is Umuahia Ohekelem. Umuahia is a village in Ohekelem, which is an autonomous community in Imo State, Nigeria. There is an abundant underground water reserve in the entire vicinity. Generally, the underground water reserve in Ngor Okpala is clean and safe for drinking. The project group will be using energy from the solar panels (when the water pump is not in operation) to drive a mini cassava flour plant, to always make effective use of the energy.

Impact

The project iinstalled a solar-powered water scheme for a rural settlement in Umuahia Ohekelem, Nigeria to improve access to clean water for the local community. By providing easy access to clean water, this project positively impacted on 5,200 local community members in Umuahia and neighbouring villages.

Photos

Installation of a solar powered DC water pump and overhead water tank for Umuokanne Village

 in Projects Portfolio

Received funding from 2023 R8/HTB Community Support Program.

Country

Federal University of Technology Owerri SB SIGHT Group (SBA29081S)

Sustainable Development Goals

Summary

Umuokanne Community is located in Owerri West of Imo State, Nigeria. The community largely engages in farming as their main source of income. They do most of their farming during the rainy season, as they largely do not have the required facility to farm when the rains are gone. During the rainy season, water is usually not a big issue for the community, but the reverse is the case during the harmattan season when the rains are gone. Clean water for drinking is one major challenge the community is facing round the year. The community does not have a functional water supply system that can give them portable drinking water. This lack of portable drinking water usually results in illnesses associated with dirty water, such as cholera, diarrhea, dysentery, hepatitis A, and typhoid. This project will use solar energy to pump water using DC pump. An overhead water reservoir using affordable rubber water tanks will also be installed to help hold water during the evening and night hours when the pump is not in operation due to the absence of sun. The entire infrastructure will be installed at a location that is central and accessible. The facility will be managed by the community head who will take charge of any repairs through their usual house to house levy. The project will provide water for a considerable section of the community and thereby solving their immediate water need especially for drinking. the water generated can also be used for other purposes such as farming. The project will also provide minimum power storage for night light.

Impact

In Umuokanne village, a solar powered water reticulation system comprising of 8 panels, 3 large tanks and 6 water taps was installed to provide clean drinking water for 100 individuals and associated households in this village. Having easy access to clean water has had a big impact in this environment. The installation has also helped one farmer to be able to plant all year round.

Photos

Adequate Electricity and Security Surveillance for Girl Secondary School, Awka

 in Projects Portfolio

Received funding from 2023 R8/HTB Community Support Program.

Country

Nigeria Section SIGHT Group (SIGHT078)

Sustainable Development Goals

Summary

The need to provide adequate electricity and security surveillance for students in Girls’ child secondary school Awka cannot be over-emphasized. In this school just like most public boarding secondary schools in Anambra state, once there is power outage from the public power supply company in the night, the students are left with no option but to use lantern and tourchlight in the reading rooms and in their hostels. This has exposed the students in the past to snake bite, possible rape of students by intruders, poor vision as a result of reading with poor light and overall bad effect on their academic performance. Girls secondary school, Awka is a public boarding school with an average population of 1,200 students out of which 650 are day students while 550 are boarding students. The school depends solely on the public power supply which supply to the school is an average of 9 hours daily. Though the school has generator but fund is not always provided by the government for fuelling the generator especially with the hike in furl price in Nigeria so the students practically stay in darkness resulting to the use of tourch and lantern whenever there is power outage from the public electricity supply company. Providing solar electricity for the school will also promote STEM education in the school as the electricity peovided will also be used to power their computer and robotic laboratory. This project will also involve CCTV that will be powered by the proposed solar electricity system to provide adequate surveillance of the school compound against intruders and to protect the students.

Impact

This project installed a solar system comprising of 12 solar panels and 4 inverter batteries to provide this girls secondary school with practical solutions to address challenges associated with unreliable electricty. This intervention allowed the girls to have access to light for their studies. The project also installed 16 CCTV cameras (three of which are solar powered) to improve security around the school. This improved the overall environment for 1,200 students and staff in this school.

Videos

Angaza Tumaini Solar Project

 in Projects Portfolio

Received funding from 2023 R8/HTB Community Support Program.

Country

Kenya Section SIGHT Group (SIGHT043)

Sustainable Development Goals

Summary

The Dreams Children’s Home Solar Installation Project addresses critical challenges faced by Dreams Children’s Home, located in Kajiado County, Kenya. With 300+ children, the home’s education and safety are compromised by unstable power supply and escalating electricity costs. The local community also lacks reliable power and water for farming. To address these needs, the project proposes a comprehensive solar energy solution. By installing solar panels, batteries, and the necessary infrastructure, stable power will be provided to the home and surrounding community. Late-night studies will enhance education, and water pumping for farming will be streamlined. Workshops and educational integration will empower children, home staff, and local technicians to manage the system effectively. The installation will be followed by community engagement to foster awareness and sustainable practices. A local oversight committee will ensure ongoing system maintenance and community involvement. Regular monitoring will track performance, and solar education will be integrated into local school curricula. This project goes beyond energy infrastructure; it envisions a brighter future for the children, community, and environment. By harnessing renewable energy and fostering education, the Dreams Children’s Home Solar Installation Project aims to transform lives, promote sustainability, and serve as a model for renewable energy adoption in the region.

Impact

This project installed a solar system comprising of solar panels, inverters, batteries and security lights at the Dreams Children home in Kajiado County, Kenya to address challenges associated with unreliable electricity and to improve security around the home. This initiative facilitated students to continue studying in the evening and supported local capacity building. It had a positive impact on over 300 children. In additional four local technicans were trained on system maintenance and over 65 community members participated in meetings related to this project, which raised awareness in the wider community of the project’s impact.

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Advancing SDG-7 in Ezza Ojianya through Mass Solar-powered Lighting Deployment in Households

 in Projects Portfolio

Received funding from 2023 R8/HTB Community Support Program.

Country

Nnamdi Azikiwe University SB SIGHT Group (SBA61881S)

Sustainable Development Goals

Summary

This project marks a pioneering effort to revolutionize the lives of residents of Ezaa Ojianya village of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The absence of electricity has cast a shadow over the community, impeding education, healthcare, communication, and economic growth. This initiative aims to tackle the significant problem of limited access to electric power by offering dependable and environmentally friendly energy solutions, providing a sustainable solution to this issue. By furnishing households with solar-powered lightening kits, the project directly tackles the barriers that have long hindered their socio-economic development of this community. These solar kits transcend conventional illumination; they ignite a transformative change that ripples through every facet of life. Students gain extended study hours, businesses flourish with increased productivity, and healthcare services are bolstered through uninterrupted power. The initiation will also undertake to train youths from the community on solar installation and maintenance, hence repositioning them to be economically self-reliant and ensuring the sustainability of the project. It is expected that at the completion of this project, the livelihood of the families and community would be enhanced, and the trainees would be equipped to sustain themselves and their loved ones.

Impact

This project had a very positive impact on the local community. It installed solar lighting kits in 50 households in the community, trained 20 local youth on design and maintenance of solar-powered lighting kits and trained 8 IEEE Members while undertaking the project activities. This had a direct impact on one quarter of the households in this community.

Photos

Enhancing access to Power and ICT Education on Bwama Island, Lake Bunyonyi

 in Projects Portfolio

Received funding from 2023 R8/HTB Community Support Program.

Country

Kyambogo University SB SIGHT Group (SBA10122S)

Sustainable Development Goals

Summary

For quite a long time, ICT studies and/or services have remained a nightmare to students and the entire population on the Golden Stars Community Daycare Center and Nursery School in Bugongi ward, Kabale Municipality. Most schools on the islands continue to struggle to teach ICT and related studies due to a lack of access to power, computers, and internet connection. It is our intention, therefore, to partly address the challenges by equipping the school with a solar power system, desktop computers, and a printer. The project will have a direct impact on not only the students and staff, but the entire Bwama island community who will access computer-related services such as printing, scanning, and photocopying at the school; thereby directly impacting the entire island and surrounding islands’ population.

Impact

This project aimed to positively impact 200 students, 12 teachers, and members of the local community by providing access to appropriate support tools.

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