The non-profit Stories Sweden is providing free sustainable solar energy solutions to rural areas in Africa. The organization has resolved to scale up access to electricity to as many families as possible, reaching out primarily to those in off-grid regions.
Founded in early 2022 by Douglas Solberg, the Swedish non-profit organization has funded and installed solar panel solutions for lighting and charging capabilities for 30 families in Tanzania.
The families that benefited from this project are residents of Olkung’wado, Mwakey, Kwa Loki and Lendoiya villages in Arumeru district, Arusha Region.
“At storiessweden.org, donors contribute to individual crowdfunding projects, receiving regular updates as to the impact of their contributions, and ensuring full transparency. We want to engage our donors as much as possible,” Solberg says.
In Tanzania, the organization partnered with Africa Amini Alama, which helped with installation of the solar panels.
Beaming with joy after the solar panels were installed, the villagers thanked the Swedish NGO for greatly improving their daily lives, saying they never expected to see electric lights in their homes. But now this has been made possible.
“May God bless you all,” said some of the villagers.
Salome Kitolomai, whose children attend school in the neighbourhood, said she was happy they would be able to study in the evening and comfortably do their homework, now that her home is shining bright.
She requested that the organization bring more of the solar power solutions to light the entire village, making it an example for what may follow.
“We are very lucky to be the first people to get solar power for free. We are grateful to the donors,” says Salome of Olkung’wado village.
The organization aims to implement its project in two more phases, depending on funding.
‘’In early 2023, Stories Sweden has planned for complete solar systems for three schools and an orphanage in Tanzania, at a cost of about $70,000. In the third phase, we expect development of a mini-grid in rural off-grid villages. The ultimate goal is to provide all households with electricity,’’ says Solberg.
Rural areas in Tanzania, where the larger part of the population resides, get their electric supply from the government’s Rural Energy Agency through connection to the national grid. However, remote places have limited access due to the difficult terrain and challenging road infrastructure, and people sometimes choose to build sprawling settlements that suit their farming and livestock needs.
There is also a dire need for electricity at dispensaries and health centers, where drugs and vaccines are at a risk of expiring due to lack of power and modern storage facilities. Currently, lanterns are being used, but those create environmental pollution and the kerosene is not always available. Health services will be able to run smoothly, even at night, if these health centres have a reliable power supply.
Stories Sweden is currently seeking partnerships and donations to extend its work. Interested parties are invited to visit storiessweden.org for more information on how to become involved as a donor or recipient.
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(Kiswahili)
Shirika lisilo la faida la Kiswidi laleta umeme wa jua vijijini
Tanzania
Na Marycelina Masha
Shirika lisilo la faida lijulikanalo kama Stories Sweden, linatoa
nishati endelevu ya jua bure katika maeneo ya vijijini barani
Afrika.
Shirika hilo limeamua kuongeza kasi ya upatikanaji wa umeme
kwa familia nyingi zaidi iwezekanavyo, ili kuwafikia watu
waishio katika maeneo yaliyo nje ya gridi za taifa.
Likiwa limeanzishwa mwaka 2022 na Douglas Solberg, shirika
hilo la Kiswidi limefadhili na kuunganisha umeme wa jua kwa
ajili ya taa na kuchaji simu kwa familia 30 nchini Tanzania.
Familia ambazo zimefadika na mradi huo ni wakazi wa vijiji
vya Olkung’wado, Mwakey, Kwa Loki na Lendoiya katika
wilaya ya Arumeru, mkoani Arusha.
“Kwenye tovuti yetu ijulikanayo kama storiessweden.org,
wafadhili huchangia miradi kwa pamoja, na pia hupata taarifa
muhimu kila mara ili wajue matokeo ya michango yao. Hii
inawahakikishia uwazi . Tunapenda kuwashirikisha wafadhili
wetu mara nyingi iwezekanavyo,’’anasema Solberg.
Nchini Tanzania, shirika hili limeshirikiana na shirika jingine la
Africa Amini Alama, ambao ndio waliosaidia katka ufungaji wa
paneli za nishati ya jua.
Wakionesha furaha kubwa baada ya paneli za jua kufungwa,
wanavijiji hao walishukuru shirika hilo la Kiswidi kwa
kuboresha maisha yao ya kila siku, na kuongeza kwamba
hawakutarajia kamwe kuona taa za umeme majumbani mwao.
Lakini sasa jambo hilo limewezekana.
“ Mungu awabariki wote,” walisema baadhi ya wanavijiji hao.
Salome Kitolomai, ambaye watoto wake wanasoma kijijini
humo, alisema anayo furaha kubwa kwani wataweza kujisomea
wenyewe saa za jioni na kufanya kazi za shuleni kwa vile sasa
nyumba yake inang’ara kutokana na umeme.
Alitoa ombi kwa shirika hilo la Kiswidi kuongeza zaidi umeme
wa jua ili kukifanya kijiji kuwa mfano, katika mipango yao ya
siku za usoni.
“Tunayo bahati ya kuwa watu wa kwanza kupata nishati ya jua
bure. Tunawashukuru sana wafadhili wetu,” anasema Salome
kutoka kijiji cha Olkung’wado.
Shirika hilo lina mpango wa kutekeleza mradi huo katika
awamu nyingine mbili, kutegemeana na upatikanaji wa fedha.
“Mwanzoni mwa 2023, Shirika la Stories Sweden limepanga
kufunga mfumo kamili wa nishati ya jua katika shule tatu
pamoja na kituo cha kulea watoto yatima kwa gharama ya $
80,000. Katika awamu ya tatu, tunatarajia kujenga gridi-ndogo
katika vijiji vilivyoko nje ya gridi ya taifa. Lengo letu ni kupatia
kila familia umeme,’’ anasema Solberg.
Nchini Tanzania, maeneo ya vijijini ambapo wananchi wengi
huishi, yanapata huduma ya umeme kutoka kwa wakala wa
Serikali wa Umeme Vijijini kwa kuunganishwa kwenye gridi ya
taifa.
Hata hivyo, maeneo ya pembezoni yanapata kiasi kidogo tu cha
nishati hii kutokana na changamoto ya ufikiwaji, barabara na
watu wenyewe kujenga maeneo yaliyo mbali mbali, kutokana na
mahitaji ya shughuli zao nyingi zikiwemo kilimo na ufugaji.
Vile vile kuna uhitaji mkubwa wa umeme katika zahanati na
vituo vya afya, ambako dawa na chanjo zipo katika hatari ya
kuharibika kutokana na ukosefu wa umeme na vifaa vya kisasa
vya kuhifadhia.
Kwa sasa, zipo zahanati ambazo hutumia taa za mafuta lakini
hizi zina changamoto ya uharibifu wa mazingira na sio
endelevu. Pia wakati mwingine mafuta ya taa ni adimu.
Shughuli za huduma ya afya zinaweza kuendeshwa nyakati zote
hata usiku, iwapo umeme wa uhakika utakuwepo.
Shirika hili kwa sasa linatafuta wabia na michango ili
kuendeleza huduma hii ya nishati ya jua. Kama una nia,
unakaribishwa kutembelea tovuti yao ya storiessweden.org ili
upate habari zao zaidi na jinsi ya kujiunga ukiwa kama mfadhili
au mwenye kutaka kufadhiliwa.
