We are helping connect solar lights with families in three islands in the Solomon Islands' Ulawa Ugi Constituency, providing them with a cheaper alternative to battery-powered lights.
Project Type
- Technology Distribution
- Technology Distribution Projects with Local Partners
Partners
THE PROBLEM
Families in Malaulalo, MalaUpaina and Ugi Islands (also known as Uki Ni Massi Island) do not have access to electricity. People used to use kerosene lanterns, but they are costly to fuel and kerosene is no longer widely available. Most families now use battery-powered lights, but are eager to replace these with solar lighting. The cost of transporting sUpplies from the bigger island of Ulawa by boat, over a distance of approximately 45km, drives Up the price of lighting alternatives on these islands. Some solar light products are available, but they are expensive and few families can afford the Upfront purchase price.
THE SOLUTION
By introducing the d.light S300 solar lights in these Islands, families will no longer have to pay around US$6.50 to use batteries for lighting each week. Solar lights are an ideal lighting solution in these hot, tropical islands where there is an abundance of sun. As families save money on batteries for lighting, they will be able to pay off their new solar light in just seven weeks. This sustainable lighting solution will offer families significant long-term savings over the five year lifespan of the product.
A young man stitching under the solar light
The solar light is being use as household lighting
The tech user using solar light to preparing her stuff for traveling to another island
Kerosene lamps are one source of lighting, but are expensive to fuel and kerosene is no longer widely available
A young man shows the torch he has built himself from scrap metal to use at night
THE EXPECTED IMPACT
Our local partner, Malaulalo Conservation & Tourism Association, focuses on conserving the natural environment in this region and wants to offer a sustainable solution to the island communities. They will sell the solar lights by visiting homes and community groups to introduce the technology. They will also put up notices at the provincial headquarters in Ugi Island to explain how people can purchase this life-changing technology. Customers will have the opportunity to purchase the technology using an instalment program where they pay in four instalments collected by representatives of the local partner living on each island.
THE PROJECT RESULT
"I have a three month old new born baby and at night the solar light is very helpful by giving light all through the night. The best thing is you can dim it or brighten it whenever you want to." - Dylin Hi'eu, Malaupaine, Makira Ulawa province, Solomon Islands.
"My family have a couple of battery torches. However, we do not use them anymore as the solar light is very handy and we don't have to spend money on buying batteries again. After all, batteries pollute the environment." - Henry Ha'i, Makira Ulawa province, Solomon Islands.
"I am the village catechist in our local church. Every morning I get up early to officiate the morning devotions. The same happens in the evening when the sun goes down. The solar light helps me a lot when I prepare my sermons, walking to church and reading the prayers. My eyes are not good and I use glasses. This light helps me to do my religious duties when the light is not good." - Gray Lohi, Makira Ulawa Province, Solomon Islands.
Our local partner reported three main challenges for this project. First the distance between islands and the fact that the distribution could only be arranged by boat made the logistics challenging. Secondly, the transport limitations added extra cost to the final price of the solar lights and put pressure on low income buyers. Many of the islanders struggled to pay the full cost price of SBD$300 (US$38.40) and unfortunately chose to halt their repayments before paying the full amount. Thirdly, people in the Solomon Islands have a cultural value system called wantok. Wantokism operates like a social security system and your wantoks are obligated to give you food and shelter, and also defend you in conflicts. Our local partner reported that the wantok system made the installment payment scheme less effective, and as a result they were unable to recover the full payment for some lights.
Our local partner informed us of the issues they were experiencing in collecting full payments. After some discussion, Kopernik agreed that given this was such a small project, the amount they had collected would be better invested in the community rather than transferred to Kopernik. Therefore, Malaulalo Conservation & Tourism Association requested permission to use the repayment value of US$412.97 to provide assistance to community members with secondary and tertiary level school fees. The cost of attending schools at this level are high due to students having to travel to the capital, Honiara, for classes. Kopernik approved this request and have received receipts from the schools for our donation.
PROJECT COST
Type
Description
Amount
Product - d.light S300
Cost of technology (includes shipping) - 19 units
$831
Wire transfer fee
$79
Payment Processing Fee
3.3% average based on the average size of project and average donation amount
$30
Administration Fee (15%)
Covers due diligence, monitoring, printing & administration related costs
$141
Total $1,081
Kopernik Solutions provided a sub-grant to a trusted partner organisation who is implementing this project.
