The solar lantern project aims to replace kerosene lamps in rural Rwanda with affordable solar lanterns. Only 16% of Rwanda has electricity access, forcing many to rely on expensive and hazardous kerosene. The project will distribute solar lantern kits to villages, where women's groups will operate charging stations and villagers pay monthly installments. This will save families money, improve health, safety and study hours while providing income to women. The project seeks a $15,000 grant to launch pilot kits for 3 villages and train women entrepreneurs to sustain the initiative.

1. SOLAR LANTERN PROJECTSOLAR LANTERN PROJECT
FOR RURAL RWANDAFOR RURAL RWANDA
BY
STUDENTS OF FAWE GIRLS’ SCHOOL,
GISOZI- KIGALI, RWANDA
1.MWIZERWA ANNET
2.RUTAYISIRE ANNET
3.KARAKE FRANCOISE
4.KANOHELI RUTH
5.MUHONGERWA FRIDER

2. INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
 In many parts of Rwanda, people do not have access to electricity,
only about 16 % of the population has access to electricity ( EWSA,
2012).
 Many impoverished rural families must rely on kerosene lamps and
candles as their only source of light.
candle-in-the-dark.jpg
 In the evening after 6:00 pm, many students in rural areas have to
use kerosene lamps for study purpose.
 The cost of kerosene is increasing every year and families in rural
areas typically spend an average of $10 per month for kerosene.
 FAWE Girls’ school is committed to offer communities a safer, more
sustainable lighting source for their homes and micro enterprises.

3. PROJECT BACKGROUNDPROJECT BACKGROUND
 Solar lantern project is part of the FAWE GIRLS’ SCHOOL’s effort
to help the rural communities in Rwanda to develop affordable
access to renewable energy.
 The need for solar lantern project was identified by FAWE girls after
visiting the rural schools in Ngoma district , in rural Rwanda.
 Many villages have no access to electricity and is fully reliant on
kerosene lamps and candle sticks as the only source of fuel and
lighting.

4. Our Proposed solar lantern designOur Proposed solar lantern design
 Our proposed solar lantern to the potential manufacturers will have
three main components: a solar panel, battery and a white light-
emitting diode. SOLAR LANTERN.jpg
 We aim to produce a lantern, which is about 40 percent cheaper
than the average market value. Most solar lanterns available use
florescent tubes, which draw too much power, We are to use a
white light-emitting diode because it's cheaper, lasts longer and is
brighter. We are to choose the cheapest solar panels and also for
batteries, which is a sealed lead-acid battery and will be similar to a
car battery. We are to use a battery that contains lead to conserve
the environment. The solar kit of 50-100 lanterns will have one
charging system. solar lantern charging unit.jpg

5. PROBLEM STATEMENTPROBLEM STATEMENT
 Only 16% of the entire population in Rwanda have access to electricity.
 In a country where over 7million people are poor, living with less than
$2 per day, they opt to kerosene lamps for lighting.
 Kerosene lamps which emit smoke, fumes and this causes eyestrain
because kerosene is a very poor source of illumination. The carbon
dioxide emitted cause global warming. kerosene lamp.jpg
 The majority of households in these villages are poorly ventilated, leaving
the occupants exposed to harmful particles emitted by the lamps and it
also causes fire hazards.
 Kerosene lanterns are expensive to maintain. Kerosene use consumes a
significant proportion of a finite household budget per year.
 Impoverished women make up to 52% of rwanda population and have
very low-income even though they labour more than other household
members.

6. PROJECT JUSTIFICATIONPROJECT JUSTIFICATION
When this project is implemented in rural areas of Rwanda, it will
benefit the communities in the following ways:
 The cumulative savings from kerosene lamp replacements, charging
of lanterns will significantly boost the income of the families.
 Increased time for studies and home businesses by 4-8 hours every
day.
 Reduction in toxic fumes and carbon dioxide emissions from the
kerosene lamps.
 Increased safety for the house holds. Reduced fire hazard indoors.
 Employment to the impoverished women and this will uplift the
standards of living of the rural families.

7. PROJECT OBJECTIVESPROJECT OBJECTIVES
Main objective:
The overall objective of this project is to replace the kerosene lanterns,
candle sticks with sustainable and affordable solar lanterns in the off grid
rural communities of Rwanda.
Specific objectives:
 To greatly reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of each house hold in
selected villages.
 To initiate the community to advocate for support of underprivileged
women.
 To empower the households of poor girls economically through selling
the solar lanterns.
 To improve the health standards of rural areas by replacing the hazard
kerosene lamps, candle sticks with solar lamps.

8. PROJECT ACTIVITIESPROJECT ACTIVITIES
 To carry out customer research and solar lantern specifications.
 To partner with manufacturers from USA/ Europe/ China for design
and development of solar lanterns,.
 To carry out prototype testing and household testing, carry out
production of ideal solar lanterns.
 To fundraise for 3 solar lantern kit s of 50-100 lanterns for the pilot
project.
 To purchase and install the solar lantern charging systems for the
pilot project.
 To deliver and install the solar kits in the selected rural villages for
the pilot project.
 To train the impoverished women in assembling and selling the solar
lanterns, also in managing micro-enterprises.

9. PROJECT METHODOLOGYPROJECT METHODOLOGY
PROJECT STRATEGY
 FAWE Girls’ school will distribute the lanterns to rural villages. The
rural people will pay an initial amount of the lantern to be
determined by the project management and the village
representatives and the rest will be paid in monthly installments for 2
years.
 In each village, a women’s self-help group (after training) will operate
a solar battery charging station, where they will charge the batteries
of solar lanterns.
 Villagers will come and exchange their discharged lanterns/ batteries
and pick up a charged lantern/ battery.
 Each villager will pay a service charge for charging the lantern/ battery
that will not be more than that they are currently paying for
kerosene fuel ( at least for the lowest income group).
 The service charges will be used to pay for the livelihood of the
women’s self-help group, replace the lanterns/ batteries as and when
needs replacement and accumulate a solar project fund to further
expand the activity in other villages.

10. PROJECT SUSTAINABILITY
The following are some of the activities that we have set up to make this
project sustainable:
 We are to seek a grant/donation worth $15,000(9,750,000Rwfs) from
international donors and foundations as a startup fund to purchase 3
solar kits each with about 50-100 lanterns for the pilot project.
 Each villager will pay a service fee (USD$ 2 to $ 5 per month) for
charging the lantern or the battery and mobile phones. The service
charges will be used to pay for the livelihood of the women’s self-help
group, replace the lanterns/ batteries and expand the project to other
areas
 Impoverished women will be encouraged to see credit from local banks.
 We shall organize annual fundraising events and all share holders in
energy, environment and education sectors of Rwanda.

11. PROJECT BUDGETPROJECT BUDGET
$9,000 3 complete solar kits each with 50 lanterns
$1,800 Utilities and operating expenses
$2,700 Training costs for impoverished women
$1,000 Expenses for the 4 project staff members
$500 Expenses for 5 FAWE students
TOTAL USD $15,000

12. PROJECT EVALUATIONPROJECT EVALUATION
 Success for the proposed initiative would be defined by the number
of student families shifting from kerosene consumption to solar
power usage through solar lanterns.
 The success will also be measured on the number of impoverished
women gaining employment from the solar enterprise.
 Feedback of the students and the increase in study hours of students
can be a factor for measuring the success of the project.
 Survey of external evaluators about the effects of using a solar
lantern on the education of the children, their health, safety benefits,
benefit to after dark productive activities e.g. local school activities
and community meetings.

13.
CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
 FAWE GIRLS’ SCHOOL needs your support to implement its
holistic approach to improve the lives of the impoverished rural
people in Rwanda through the use of renewable energy to light their
houses and power their agricultural projects like poultry, piggery
etc.
HOW YOU CAN HELP?
 The project urgently needs your support through financial donations.
 You can help by spreading the word about the project.
 You can volunteer to train the women on micro-enterprise business
solutions.