Tanzania project a real ray of sunlight
Candles and torches were kept at the ready and a spare plug-in phone, since the one we usually used was dependent on the electric. And when it came to heating the place well, there was always the old reliable wood burner.
We would make anxious calls to the ESB, asking if they knew what the problem was and, more importantly, if they had any idea of how long it would be before power was restored. And I must say, during that time, I had some fascinating conversations. Because our area didn’t always show up on their map, they could only speculate on what the problem might be.
They came up with some pretty creative suggestions as to the source of our problems, such as a rogue cow using their equipment as a rubbing post, or that everyone might be milking their cows at the same time, thereby causing an overload on the system. This last was a special favourite with the neighbours since the notion of milking much more than a goat in this rough, mountainy area would be entirely aspirational.
These days, of course, it’s a different story, and although I’m still inclined to flinch when the wind gets up and hope I’ve remembered to check the batteries in the torch, it’s only in the absolutely worst conditions that we lose power. But those days of not being able to work, or even see that well, was a salutary lesson on the importance of electricity in all our lives.
Solar energy has been a watchword for many people in the Western world, particularly when we were not in such dire economic times. This green energy source can, unfortunately, be expensive to install And, unfortunately for our African neighbours who can frequently be off the grid, although they have sunlight a-plenty, the cost of this system can be prohibitive.
The Cork-based organisation Solar Without Frontiers (SWF) are a non-profit group of concerned energy consultants whose aim is to bring solar energy to disadvantaged communities in Africa. They want to bring electricity to even the most remote village. And the effect this can have on every aspect of peoples’ lives can be monumental.
Access to lights, fridges, water pumping systems, computers, telecommunication, hospital equipment and much more transform lives. Remote villages all too often have to rely on kerosene for even the most basic lighting requirements. And kerosene lamps pose a threat to the health and safety of families since they are bad for eyes and lungs and can pose a real fire hazard.
Solar lights, however, are clean, green, maintenance free and with micro-credit can be available for many hard-pressed communities. SWF’s Tim Hehir joined up with Glenstal Abbey’s John O’Callaghan to install a solar energy system in Tanzania’s Songea’s Hanga Abbey for their IT education facility there.
“Africa’s vast size and inadequate infrastructure should be seen as an opportunity for them to by-pass fossil fuels as a means of electricity generation and implement renewable energy technologies on a wide scale” he says. “It was a privilege to be able to apply my knowledge and training to such a worthy cause.”
In October, two other SWF volunteers, Sean Coomey and Xavier Dubisson also made a lengthy journey to another Benedictine centre of excellence, the Mvimwa Abbey. I talked to Bandon man Sean Coomey about his epic — and highly successful — journey.
* I understand it turned out to be quite a trip, Sean?
>>Oh yes, and a lot of it was made on dirt tracks full of dust, potholes and what could only be described as craters in a ten-year-old VW bus. But all along the way, the kindness of the people and the care the Benedictine brothers took of us was incredible. When we had a puncture, for instance, we found out that we had no wheel brace or spare tire. But other travellers stopped and helped and eventually we were on the road again. We were two days travelling across country but finally we got there.
* This was your first time in Africa wasn’t it?
>>Yes, and it was a real eye opener. The resourcefulness and hospitality of the people who often had very little was quite remarkable. Needless to say, we were shattered by the time we arrived. It was pitch dark when we got there but the children had stayed up to welcome us. The monastery is absolutely beautiful and they had managed to ensure that there was enough power for hot showers for us, which was just what we needed.”
* You got to work pretty early the next day I believe?
>>“Yes, we were up and at it by dawn on the Wednesday and over to the site at the school where there is a kindergarten and primary school with approximately 470 pupils. The school caters for children and boarders from all over the region. They had been managing on approximately two hours electricity a day and were dependent on a diesel generator. We were totally surprised by the local work force that was already assembled. These people were highly skilled in many areas and what they didn’t know, they learned quickly. They could turn their hand to anything.”
* And by the Saturday morning, it was ‘job done’, wasn’t it?
>>“That’s right. We hadn’t expected it to go so quickly. But we still weren’t sure if it was all going to work so there were just three of us there for the switch-on. As they had no light switches, it all came on at once, and all the buildings were lit up like Christmas trees. It was a great moment. Later we made sure there were switches for a more efficient use of energy.”
* There must have been quite a celebration?
>>“Yes, there was. The next day there was a beautiful Mass in the Abbey, speeches, amazing singing and several of us were in tears. These people gave us far more than they will ever know and we’ve learned so much about what to do — and not to do — for the next project. One of our main aims is ultimately to ensure that local people can complete projects like this themselves with whatever help we can give.”
