This project will provide d.light solar lights to households in one Suco of Oecusse (a Suco is an administrative division) and will enable these families to become independent from kerosene and have a brighter future.
Over the last several decades, nearly 70% of East Timor's homes and infrastructure were destroyed in war and almost 200,000 East Timorese were killed or died from war-related starvation and disease. Oecusse is an isolated enclave within East Timor that is almost completely without electricity and has a population of 67,000 people. Almost every household in this district reports that there is at least one month per year when their household does not have enough to eat.
Less than 1% of the Oecusse population have access to electricity and 92% rely on fuel powered lamps (mainly kerosene) for light. When they can afford it, most people in Timor burn 1.5 – 2 liters of kerosene a week. One liter of kerosene costs about $1.25 in urban settings but in remote areas doubles to $2 - $2.5.
A lack of light is a handicap, as it deprives communities of income generating activities, such as sewing and repair of fishing nets; handicraft production; cooking snacks for sale. It also affects school study, community meetings and general household lighting. Most household activities are done by women and children – a lack of lighting impacts them the most.
We are aiming to eliminate kerosene from Oecusse and eventually provide every household with clean, bright and safe light.
In the short term, families save money by not having to buy kerosene and spend less on medical bills due to treatment of respiratory illness.
In the long term, increased productivity due to facilitation of evening work and better quality of light for children to study by, all lead to an improved quality of life for the rural poor.
725 households (around 3625 people)
Each household in one Suco of Oecusse will be offered the opportunity to purchase a solar lamp at a subsidized price
Oecusse is Timor-Leste’s isolated enclave in West Timor with a population of around 70,000. 45% of the population in Oecusse lives below the national poverty line. Transport to and from and within Oecusse is limited - the cost of basic goods in Oecusse is higher than Dili. Food shortages are common in Oecusse. Almost every household reports that there is at least one month per year when their household does not have enough to eat. The average per capita expenditure in Oecusse is estimated to be around $23 per month (ranging from $7 to $108 per month).
The lights will be distributed to households in one suco (administrative division) at a subsidized price . It is expected that after households make the switch from kerosene to solar lighting the following changes will occur:
- Children will be able to study in the evening
- Longer hours of productive time for families, enabling them to earn more money
- Increase in household savings
- Reduction in kerosene consumption
- Improved health
- Reduction in kerosene fires
We will conduct a baseline and follow up assessment to measure the impact of the lamps.
Fluctuations in currency exchange rates and shipping costs may change the final quantity of technologies shipped for this project.
FEEO will provide the human resources to conduct awareness raising, surveys, distribution and training for all activities.
English
日本語