With most learners in rural Namibia residing in shacks, learning after school is almost impossible due to long distances, household chores or lack of electricity, among others. The Capricorn Foundation has stepped in to assist three schools in the Ohangwena, Omusati and Kunene regions by donating 671 solar-powered lamps to make studying at home safe, effective, and possible. The first donation on Wednesday, 3 August 2022, took place at Eenhana Secondary School in Eenhana, where 330 learners received solar lamps. The following day, on Thursday, 4 August 2022, Ondeka combined school in Outapi received 100 solar lights. Mureti High School in Opuwo will receive 241 lights on Monday, 8 August 2022.
The solar lamps, sourced through Edu-Light, an initiative powered by Greenville Solars that aims to provide solar lights to learners/students living in informal settlements, feature a long-lasting battery and durable design. Its 50-lumen, neutral LED light yields up to 72 hours of light from a single sunny day of solar charging. You can hold the light, hang it, or let it stand on a table, directing the light to where you want it, which makes it perfect to be a learner’s studying tool. The light has three different brightness settings and can also be electrically charged at school with a cable.
Principal of Eenhana Secondary School, Mr. Shoopala, facilitating the distribution of the lights.
“Thank you, Capricorn Foundation, for coming to the rescue of our learners as far as an alternative electricity provision for studying is concerned. We encourage other stakeholders to take on the example and assist, as the need remains great,” said Mr Shoopala, the Principal of Eenhana Secondary School. He was grateful to the Capricorn Foundation and Edu-Light for the lamps enabling learners to study at home and improve their marks.
The learners that received the lights were chosen on a needs-based assessment survey with the help of teachers. Amongst the three schools, over 671 learners either use candles, paraffin lamps or wood for lighting, which is very unsafe. The lamps will not only benefit the learner, but also other siblings in the home, which is often the case in households.
“We do not have torches at home, and we struggle to read our books more. I am happy with this solar light because I can read and study anytime,” said Sarafina Linus from Eenhana Secondary School.
For the Capricorn Foundation, being Connectors of Positive Change is essential to their existence. The Foundation is the vehicle for Capricorn Group’s CSR activities and has specific goals of improving people’s lives in Namibian communities, to which education and sustainability are integral. The Capricorn Foundation saw an opportunity to improve education by addressing the need to help students study better with solar electricity.
“We are proud to have purchased these solar lights for our Namibian learners, a solution to education that is safe and sustainable. Shack fires are an everyday occurrence in rural communities, often leading to death or injuries. The donated lights allow learners to study at home effectively and ensure safety for the entire family,” Marlize Horn.
