Dutch Minister donates 250 solar units
Netherlands, Minster of International Trade and Development, Hon. Lilianne Ploumen recently paid the Orange Babies Pappa centre in Otjomuise a visit to launch a pilot study for the introduction of the Dutch designed Waka Waka solar lights and chargers.
The minister donated 250 Waka Waka units which were distributed via established Dutchs welfare projects and NGOs to groups of children living in households without electricity.
“After a day in the sun it charges any phone or provides up to 150h of bright light. As a social enterprise, WakaWaka aims to end energy poverty. The intention is to evaluate via qualitative and quantitative feedback whether using the WakaWaka will have made a difference to the lives of the children,”said Orange Babies Country Manager, Cecile Lescurat-Thieme.
The Pappa House is a project of Orange Babies Foundation that provides a haven of quality education, food and after school care to pre-school and learners in the heart of one of the most deprived communities in Windhoek.
In total the project supports 141 children at the centre in primary and secondary schools. All kids hail from disadvantaged and vulnerable backgrounds and many are orphans. Our high school students also receive encouragement and support with school registrations and uniforms during their school career after the Pappa project
The pilot phase was aimed at assessing whether the Waka Waka units are accepted valued and used in local communities which currently do not have access to grid electricity.
According to the Namibia Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2009/2010, only 42% of Namibian households used electricity for lighting and 38% relied on candles for lighting at home. Under these conditions, a product like the WakaWaka Power+ offers an easy, practical and particularly flexible solution to provide access to lighting and all the added chances it entails, such as social interaction, studies, reading, house chores or simply being able to move about safely at night or early morning.
“We wish to make a meaningful contribution to the Namibian people’s prosperity, with something maybe as simple as having access to lighting and charging,” said Ploumen.
“I trust that good use will be made of the WakaWaka solar powered lights and hope it improves and contributes to the learning and education of the children at the Pappa House and in the rural areas of Otjozondjupa, Erongo and Kunene where the pilot project will run as well,” she added.
