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Lighting Up Kakamega Imagine going blind for just 30 minutes or being trapped in a dark un-
derground cave. 54% of the population in Kakamega is trapped in light
poverty, their homesteads transformed into faceless caves with each set-
ting sun. However, the d.light solar lamps distributed by ACDT have not
only lit up homes but lives.
ACDT staff and Kopernik’s Denis Law completed assessing phase 1 of the Light
Up Kenya project which aims to eliminate light poverty by providing safe, cheap
and affordable solar lanterns to the non-electrified homes in Kakamega county.
30 lamp users in Kakamega county were interviewed. According to the survey,
the transition to solar based lighting from traditional kerosene combustion has
greatly improved livelihood activities by extending working hours beyond sunset.
With the solar lanterns, 97% of the respondents said they were able to save about
776Ksh monthly, 27% are now able to engage in more income generating activi-
ties like farming and 34% claim to have realized academic improvement due to
extended study hours. In the second phase, ACDT & Kopernik continue to dis-
tribute the S.300 and S.2 solar lanterns at a subsidized price of Ksh. 3000 and
Ksh. 900 respectively.
LIGHT YOUR WORLD
This month, its all about lighting
up your world. A simple gesture,
a kind word, a hearty laugh could
rekindle the flames in your world.
This issue of our bulletin focuses
on the impact of the Light Up
Kenya Project. Read about how
solar lighting technology has im-
proved education standards at
Nderema Primary School.
Gracing our cover page, is Mzee
Joseph Waswa who chose to light
up his grandchildren’s world with
a D.light solar lamp. How about
you? How are you lighting up your
world?
………………………………………………
ACDT UPDATE ACTION FOR CHILD DEVELOPMENT TRUST ISSUE I MAY 2013
IN THIS ISSUE
Page 2 —Directors Note
Page 3-ACDT gallery
Page 4-The E-child
Page 5-News
Page 6-Upcoming events.
ACDT TEAM BOARD OF TRUSTEE
MEMBERS
Robert Namunyu
Dr. Paul Wanjala
Polycarp Waswa
Administration Manager
Christianah Waswa
Accountant
Boniface Namunyu
Community Outreach Officers
Lawrence Omoka
Caroline Mitungu
Joshua Odhiambo
Communication and So-cial Media Intern
Teresa Mulomi
Director’s Note Action for Child Development Trust is pleased to share
with you our experiences and work with children, parents,
teachers, communities and other stakeholders. It is re-
warding to see children acquire social and financial educa-
tion skills, families testify of the benefit they accrue from
acquisition of solar lanterns and the youth’s capacity to
mobilise financial resources and commence loaning activi-
ties. We look forward to identifying opportunities to bring
such sustainable initiatives to scale.
For solar lanterns, we are in the design stage of a model
that will reach ‘the hard’ to reach. Those who would like to
access the solar lanterns but are unable to pay upfront.
ACDT believes in exploring opportunities to ensure its
relevant and responsive to the needs of the community. In
this case, ACDT is working towards designing an effective
microcredit and rental scheme to ensure that families get
the most benefit from the solar lamps in spite of their fi-
nancial ability.
We hope that this newsletter will be informative and wel-
come your thoughts, ideas and opportunities to network
for the benefit of the children and youth in our communi-
ties.
Thanks.
STAFF
An optimist is a person who sees a green light
everywhere, while a pessimist sees only the red
stoplight... the truly wise person is colorblind.
Albert Schweitzer
QUOTE OF THE MONTH
GALLERY
ABOUT ACDT
MISSION Assist communities to en-
hance the quality of life of
children and families by
increasing their capacities
to protect, educate, and
advocate for promotion of
children’s rights through
quality education, better
health, and sustainable
livelihood
PROGRAMS
AFLATOUN
A child social and financial
education program that
promotes self-reliance.
AFLATEEN
Youth program that pro-
motes both social and fi-
nancial education in order
to achieve more holistic and
sustainable personal and
community development.
WORLD STARTS WITH ME
Computer based program
that aims to mainstream
sexual education as part of
the core framework in edu-
cation.
LIGHT UP KENYA
This project aims to ad-
dress the lighting needs of
rural homes and schools
living off the electric grid so
that children can have
more study time.
The sky is the limit: Pupils from Emakina Primary School prove they got tal-
ent, 2) The next big thing: Innovators at work making clay cars
LEFT: The Shieywe High School Aflateen team at work planting trees.
RIGHT: Members of the Malaha Youth Group during a saving meeting
Bright Smiles, Bright Lamps: D.light solar lamp consumers happy with its
performance
The E-child: Solar technology for
empowerment.
A story is told of the digital E-child. A child living in a 24 hour econ-
omy. The laptop, his study companion; his class, a multimedia e-
learning environment complete with an e-curriculum and a set of
computer and internet based instruction, and virtual learning plat-
forms. For some children in rural Kakamega , the E-child is just
that...a fairytale.
There’s is a story of 24 hour poverty and swollen red eyes from spending hours with their
only study companion, ‘the koroboi’ . Books ruined by burn marks, roofs expensively deco-
rated with black soot and dim reading spaces describe their learning platform.
For some lucky students, the chemistry lab presents the only opportunity to experience
the magic of chemicals. Unfortunately, these kids are breathing proof that harmful
chemical components like carbon monoxide, nitrogen & sulphur oxides and hydrocarbons
exist outside the lab since they inhale this chemicals every day, thanks to hazardous
kerosene lamps.
For school kids leaving in non-electrified areas, the road to success is marred with such
hurdles. However, students in Nderema Primary Schools are reaping the benefits of solar
lighting. Last year, the school bought 3 solar lanterns from ACDT and these have proved
to be great instruments in improving education standards at the school. The three lamps,
used by the class 7 and class 8 pupils during their morning and evening preps have
greatly reshaped how education activities are carried out in the school.
According to Mrs. Judith Muchika, a teacher at the school, the school
has realized academic improvement since the lanterns were intro
duced. She however wishes that the lanterns could be available for
students in the lower classes who are still using hazardous kerosene l
amps to study. The solar lanterns provide better light quality to study
by, healthier indoor air to breathe, and easier mobile phone charging.
If the proposed laptop in schools project is to succeed, we may need to
harness the extraordinary power of solar technology to ensure we
achieve the dream of producing more productive and empowered E-
students.
New Aflatoun and Aflateen Schools!!!
ACDT has extended the Aflateen and Aflatoun program to 12
Schools in Kakamega County. The three schools selected from the Esumeyia cluster
are Shinoyi Primary, Shingoto Primary, Shikomari Secondary Schools and Shinoyi
Secondary Schools.
Sidikho Primary and Secondary School, Kharanda primary, Burangasi Primary, Na-
mundera Secondary and Sirigoi Secondary are the Aflateen schools selected from the
Navakholo Cluster. Lastly, the new additions from the Butere cluster are Shiraha Pri-
mary and Lunza Secondary School. The Aflatoun and Aflateen programs promote so-
cial and financial education to equip the youth with the necessary skills to lead holis-
tic, self-reliant, and responsible lives.
SKILLFUL PARENTING Every child deserves to be loved. Parents can some-
times be too engrossed in their work or personal strug-
gles that they neglect their parenting responsibilities.
The skillful parenting program is a behavior change
initiative that intends to promote more healthy parent
-child relationships in order to create an environment
where children can flourish personally, academically
and socially
Maureen Buyu at a skillful par-
enting training in Lwakhupa.
Pablo Casals says, "A child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the
world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like
him
CONTACT US
ACTION FOR CHILD
DEVELOPMENT TRUST
P.O.BOX 2876 50100
Tel: +254 722 619 601
Website.
acdt.webs.com
www.facebook.com/
actionforchilddevelop-
menttrust
This day presents an opportunity for high school students to show-
case their financial and social enterprises. The event will be held
at Eshisiru Secondary Schools.
Aflateen Culmination Event - 20th, July
SRH&R Culmination event - 13 July
UPCOMING EVENTS
On this day, all roads lead to St.Kizito Secondary School as secon-
dary schools meet to showcase some of the lessons learnt in their
Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights modules. Fashion shows,
songs, poems and talks will crown the day.
Big Thank You!!
Aflatoun International Week This year, the event will be held in Nairobi. The event provides
a platform for organizations implementing the Aflatoun pro-
gram to share experiences and document best practices