World Vision and Panasonic Corporation have launched an off-grid solutions project in Narok County, Kenya
Panasonic has donated power supply stations, solar storage devices, solar lanterns and other lighting equipment.
This off-grid solutions project is in line with Panasonic's corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. This project is intended for communities in Asia and Africa with a large off-grid population, where Panasonic works with NGOs that are making efforts to address social issues. In Kenya, World Vision implements this two-year project as the partner organisation.
The project aims to bring solar-powered electricity to an area of Narok County that is not connected to the national power grid. According to the Kenya Population and Housing Census, 22.7per cent of households countrywide is connected to the national electricity grid. In Narok County, however, only 5.6 per cent of households are covered.
Specifically, the new project has provided two solar stations and lighting equipment for Ilkimati Primary School and Enkutoto dispensary. They have also received solar storage devices. In addition, Panasonic has donated solar lanterns to 150 households in the community.
“To enhance the sustainability of the project, the beneficiaries will be trained on basic knowledge of electricity and the system, and the maintenance of the equipment by the project,” according to Panasonic.
Once the solar-powered electricity is rolled out in the area, World Vision will support the community to run income-generating activities such as poultry farming and school gardening that will be fully equipped with solar-powered drip irrigation kits. They will also initiate reading camps, making use of the solar lighting system, to improve literacy competencies for both children and adults.
The solar technologies focus on providing the community with opportunities for diversifying their income-generating activities and venturing into new areas such as fruit and vegetable cultivation and poultry farming using a chicken egg incubator. In addition, the availability of electricity will enable people to extend their working hours thus increasing family incomes.
