LIGHT FOR LEARNING

Despite the incredible wealth of PNG in terms of its natural resources, 40% of PNG’s population is living below the poverty line, with more than 80% of the entire population without access to electricity crucial for human wellbeing and socioeconomic development. The use of traditional solid fuels for light and cooking is prevalent, impacting health and educational outcomes, as well as overall quality of life. However, solar lighting and energy technology present a significant opportunity to provide clean, sustainable and affordable lighting solutions to off-grid communities in PNG.

Only seven per cent of the Western and Oro populations, where KTF operate education programs, have access to the electricity grid and a reticulated water system. Although PNG has expansion plans for the electricity network, there is little likelihood of these remote communities having access the grid in the foreseeable future.

Powering study for brighter futures

KTF’s Light for Learning project aims to improve lives, livelihoods and futures by providing students and communities in remote Oro and Western provinces with a reliable source of clean solar lighting and power. So far, there have been two rounds of solar installations in Oro and Western provinces from 2021-2023. After the first round, over 6680+ households and 96 facility solar light and energy systems have been installed in Oro and Western Province, affecting a population of 33,440+. Additionally, during the second round of installations in Oro and Western province over 6030+ households and 58 facility solar light and energy systems were installed affecting a population of 30,185+. This means a staggering number of 63,630+ lives have been transformed and now have access to sustainable, cheap, safe solar energy and lighting systems lighting up their lives. With support from the PNG-Australia Partnership, ‘Light for Learning’ has worked in the greater Balimo region of Middle Fly, and the Kokoda, Northern Beaches and Tufi regions of Oro, installing solar and lighting systems to every household, school, aid post and community building in 96 villages. These villages all have links to KTF’s existing education projects, chosen to assist students with their learning.

Households receive a home solar unit which has three lights and USB charging capability for phones, radios and other small devices. Community facilities receive a larger unit capable of lighting and powering a television, which will be provided with USBs loaded with information for learning, highly beneficial for school lessons and community awareness, including COVID-19 information.

Being connected to a reliable source of clean lighting and energy is known to be a catalyst for progress within rural and remote communities and helps reach development goals; it does this by enabling students to study after dark, people (especially women and girls) to feel safer in their homes and villages after dark, and adults to conduct business, social or professional activities.

Proven results

A recent external evaluation completed by Equity Economics on the Light for Learning project has highlighted the impact that this project has already had in improving lives, livelihoods and futures:

86% of households in Oro Province and 80% of households in Western Province report their children spending more time studying at night
The average time spent doing homework at night has increased from 8 minutes to 103.1 minutes after installations
Households report saving 31% of their income which is instead being spent on school fees or food
Households from both Oro and Western Provinces reported a reduction in soreness/irritation of eyes as well as improvement in respiratory health thanks to having access to a clean source of light and energy
Health workers noted that they were better able to assess, monitor and treat patients with better lighting and that community members have more confidence to access health services at night
64% of Oro respondents and 78% of Western respondents report that they received more income from their small businesses, with Western respondents reporting that their average weekly incomes have increased by more than 100%; other unintended economic benefits include the emergence of night markets in villages
Households reported that the brightness of the light increased their sense of safety. As a result, there was more socialising and walking around at night-time.

Creating livelihoods

Excitingly, the project will also create small business opportunities for community members, by establishing groups of ‘Solar Champions’ in each village to support system installation. Key women and men from the community will be trained in solar installation and maintenance and business operation, with the support of project partner Solar Solutions PNG. This will enable Solar Champions to set up small businesses that help the community maintain and upgrade their systems, linked to larger repair hubs at Kokoda College and Balimo College.

Solar Champions will also conduct financial literacy training to support communities in household budgeting to help realise cost savings on kerosene and ensure system batteries can be replaced as necessary (three- to five-year life cycle).