Sierra Leone

Lighting For Education Project

The Sierra Leone Lighting for Education Project was an initiative that enhanced opportunities for education in the Koinadugu district of Sierra Leone. This project involved the installation of solar panels and 110 LED lamps in schools and literacy centres, including a community library. In total, lighting systems were installed in six buildings which house education programs in Kabala, capital city of the Koinadugu district in north western Sierra Leone.

The Koinadugu district is one of the poorest in the country of Sierra Leone. It suffered greatly during the civil war, and has received very little investment from the central government. There is no electrical infrastructure in Koinadugu district, and little prospect of acquiring this infrastructure in the near future. Gas powered electrical generators, and some solar power, are the only sources of electricity in this vast region. 

The Sierra Leone Lighting for Education Project was a joint partnership between Light Up The World, Philips Lighting, and CAUSE Canada. The Environmental Foundation for Africa (EFA) and SunEnergy Power International were also partners in this project. The lighting project was also complementing CAUSE Canada's education programs in the community of Kabala. The schools and literacy centres that received the solar lighting systems supported the education of over 1200 school children in three schools, 50 teachers and community facilitators, 700 women taking part in an adult literacy project and over 1000 people who use the community library. Currently, education programs take place during the day and end at around six o'clock in the evening once the sun goes down. As lighting becomes available, students will be able to study in the evenings. Light Up The World's solid state lighting systems will give bright and useful light to the participating educational facilities in Kabala.

Reading Light Project

The Sierra Leone Reading Light project which was completed in June 2009, is another initiative that has enhanced opportunities for education in the Koinadugu district of Sierra Leone.  As a response to the lighting deficiency of the Koinadugu district, Light Up The World has partnered with Philips Lighting and CAUSE Canada to bring reading lights to Sierra Leone.  These lightweight, hand-held lights have been distributed to schools and literacy centres in the area, including a community library, thereby allowing families to read, write, and study into the evening hours.