project: nanzala primary school

 

population: 946 students

location: budaka district

cost: $10,879

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summary: the oldest students of nanzala primary school were studying for their national exams when a storm blew off the roof of their school. they had been sleeping at the time—many were staying all night in their classrooms, preparing for the nation-wide exam that determines whether or not they will make it to secondary school. the tests are easy for those that prepare, but without light in their homes, these children did not have the opportunity to study in the evenings. with money going to repair the roof of the school, there was none left to fund the candles and kerosene lamps that were used to light nighttime study sessions. now, with light in their classrooms, the students are able to resume their studies at night. but the benefits don’t end there--solar energy also provides them with the power to use radios and computers for the first time. in a school powered by israeli solar technologies, the nanzala students will finally be able to continue on to higher education and a life of greater opportunity.

project: lwaso primary

 

population: 550 students

location: mbale district

cost: $10,879

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summary: located 10km away from the nearest village with electricity, the lwaso primary school is home to 530 students and nine teachers. the school has no official boarding program, but both students and teachers have to walk such great distances to get there that they often spend the night sleeping in their classrooms, pushing back the desks and sleeping on the cement floors. each night, these students used to struggle to complete their studies by candlelight. now, for the first time, with solar energy provided by jewish heart for africa, students who spend the night at school can do their homework without straining their eyes in the dark or breathing in smoke to hurt their lung. the students of lwaso primary school now come together to study and prepare for exams in the light. each night they are able to sit down together as a community, using the light of solar energy to bring themselves a brighter future.

project: putti primary school { rothman primary school }                                                                    

population:1100 students
location: mbale region 

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cost: $3890                                    

summary: with only 10 classrooms for 1100 students, putti primary school is crowded by even rural african school standards. these children know that education is their greatest opportunity. but without light, the students that piled into class each day could not complete their homework in the evenings. they couldn’t finish their assignments or study for national exams, preventing them from the success they were trying so hard to achieve. now, with the Israeli solar technologies provided by jewish heart for africa, the 1100 children of putti primary have light to read and prepare their studies at night for the first time, providing them with a chance at a brighter future. putti primary was dedicated by elisha and kellie rothman in memory of anita rothman.

project: kaliro school and orphanage

 

population: 300 children

location: kaliro district

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cost:

summary: allan is an orphan. shortly before both his parents died of AIDS, they entrusted allan to kaliro orphanage. for nearly three years , allan has been living in the kaliro dormitory, going to bed each night alone and in the dark. but recently, there has been a great change in kaliro orphanage. with the installation of solar energy by jewish heart for africa, the dormitories are lit up at night. for the first time, children can read to themselves and one another. allan is only six years old, and has never had anyone to read him a story in bed. now, unlike his parents, allan is learning to read by himself,  and for the first time doesn’t feel so alone.

project: nawansekese primary school { natan school }

 

population: 544 students

location: namutumba district

cost:

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summary: mutyaba abaasa never chose to run this rural school. posted there by the government in 2005, mr. abaasa found only a series of thatched huts and outdoor benches when he arrived. now, four years later, seven classrooms have replaced those huts, and a boarding program is in place for their poorest students. mr. abaasa has been waiting for years for electricity to begin his evening homework program, and to provide light to the boarders who are forced to be away from their families in order to receive an education. jewish heart for africa has made this possible with solar technologies from israel. now, each night, the students study and learn together in the light.

 

project: putti library and synagogue { rothman library and synagogue }

 

population: 130 orthodox jews

location: mbale region

cost: $3940

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summary: 100 years ago, a group of jews in putti village converted to Judaism. they are orthodox, strictly observing the sabbath, holidays and all the laws of kashrut. but they are poor. they have lost eight members of their community to malaria, and many do not have enough food to eat. still, each friday night, they come together to pray in their synagogue. without light to read, only the leader chanted, reading by the light of a candle, and the rest of the community would attempt to mumble along. now, jewish heart for africa has brought light to their synagogue, and all the members of putti village can read and sing together for the first time. we have also powered their poultry farm, community center, ten individual homes and a water pumping system. putti library and synagogue was dedicated by elisha and kellie rothman in memory of jerry rothman and yitzchak isaac weinberger. 

 

project: putti poultry farm and community center { project hazan }

 

population: 130 orthodox jews

location: mbale region

cost: $3040

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summary: the orthodox jews of uganda are poor. they depend on agriculture and livestock for their income, and recent years have been harsh for their community. together, they built a poultry farm and community center to serve as a new source of income for the village. with solar energy, jewish heart for africa provided light in the poultry farm. chickens don’t eat in the dark, so light at night helps to breed a larger flock worth more at local markets. light in the community center allows the building to serve as a guest house as well. the jews of putti village are trying to improve their own circumstances, and the power from israeli technologies is helping them to grow and succeed.

project: namutumba synagogue {perlman synagogue and library}           

 

population: 160 jews

location: namutumba district

cost: $2383

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summary: another community of ugandan jews is located in namutumba village. led by rabbi eric, who has been studying judaism since the age of two, they are devoted to their faith and gather each week to pray. without funding even for candles or kerosene lamps, however, these impoverished jews were unable to study their religion, to read religious texts or to recite prayers in the evenings. now, with solar power from jewish heart for africa, they gather each evening to discuss issues facing the community. women and children come to learn with their husbands and fathers, and for the first time, the synagogue is the center of their jewish communal life.

project: ten individual homes

 

population: ten families and the surrounding village

location: mbale region

cost: $10,879

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summary: when rebecca and her five children went into their hut each night, there was no light. without windows or a chimney, burning candles or kerosene lamps was dangerous for their health and safety. the cost of candles and lamps also made them a luxury item, and rebecca could not afford them. her children could not complete their homework, and the day would end as soon as the sun set, because she and her family were unable to access light. now, jewish heart for africa has provided solar energy in their home, and rebecca’s children sit together and study for the first time. rebecca, who never received an education, is learning to read as well, and a family whose day used to end with nightfall now gather, talk and work into the evening.

project: putti water pumping system

 

population: 1000 people

location: mbale region

cost: $10,879

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summary: the average african woman spends over three hours a day fetching water. this adds up to a total of 1,095 hours per year, or 45 entire days. the water each mother brings home to her family is often unclean, causing over 80% of death and disease in the developing world. and putti village was no different. women and children would spend their days carrying water instead of going to school or earning a living. that is why jewish heart for africa provided solar power for a water pumping system in the village. now, 20,000 liters of clean water is pumped each day to serve the village’s cooking, drinking and livestock needs. for the first time, women and children simply walk to the faucet in the center of town and bring home clean, safe and plentiful water for their families.

project: nawampiti medical clinic 

 

population: 30,000 people

location: kaliro district

cost: $10,879

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summary: located over 25km from even the nearest town, no one ever travels to nawampiti—not even the local government. the people of this isolated village have never seen electricity, never even dreamed of having it. this clinic serves over 30,000 people, and has never issued a single vaccine. countless numbers of villagers suffer from preventable diseases such as polio, tuberculosis and yellow fever, all because they had no power for a refrigerator to store medicines and vaccines. on the day we arrived to install solar energy, hundreds began lining up. our local manager had explained to them what they could expect, and news of the vaccines that would be made instantly available spread quickly through the village. the very day of our installation, children were already receiving their first ever vaccines, and a community of 30,000 people now has access to proper medical care any time of day.

project: lubuulo primary school 

 

population: 1,009 people

location: kaliro district

cost: $10,879

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summary: lubuulo primary school is run by reverend waako andrew, and has 1009 students. living without lights in their homes, the students used to remain at school in the evening to complete their homework each night. recent drought, however, has caused a food shortage that has left the entire community short on both funds and food. parents and teachers could no longer afford the candles and kerosene lamps they once used to light the school at night. without light for their studies, students would fail out of school and parents were forced to choose between feeding and educating their children. now, with solar energy installed by jewish heart for africa, families no longer need to spend the little money they have on kerosene. teachers have committed to volunteer their evenings to run extra curricular and adult education programming. this light and the commitment of lubuulo’s teachers will allow opportunities for the previous generation as well as the next one to excel, and to escape the cycle of poverty in order to help themselves and their community.

project: nabigwali medical center 

 

population: 23,422 people

location: kaliro district

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cost: $10,879

summary: without light in their facility, births and nighttime surgeries at the nabigwali medical center were performed by the light of unsafe and unsanitary candles and kerosene lamps. those in need of urgent medical care at night often could not locate the clinic in the dark. finally, without electricity for a refrigerator, government issue medicines and vaccines would spoil in the african sun. on march 7th, 2010, jewish heart for africa installed an israeli solar system on the roof of nabigwali medical clinic. now, the people of nabigwali have access to the medical care they deserve. Each of their treatment rooms is lit for nighttime medical care. we have installed lights outside the clinic as well, allowing the 23,400 served by this facility to seek treatment at any time of day. finally, their solar powered refrigerator is now fully stocked with lifesaving medicines and vaccines, and an entire generation of children will now be immune to preventable disease.

project: kaliro community HIV/AIDS organization (KACHO)

 

population: 500 HIV/AIDS patients

location: kaliro district

status: In progress – fundraising completed

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summary: KACHO is an HIV/AIDS clinic with over 500 enrolled patients ranging in age from 2 to 60. for years, the facility has provided counseling services to patients suffering from HIV/AIDS, performed initial screenings and administered prophylactic drugs. because they didn’t have electricity for a refrigerator and lab, they were not accredited by the government and could not administer much needed lifesaving antiretroviral medications. AIDS patients were forced to travel 20km on foot to receive monthly treatment at the nearest accredited facility. now, with a lab and refrigerator made possible by solar energy, KACHO will be able to offer treatment to the local community, and even perform testing for HIV/AIDS. this will allow for earlier identification of the disease, preventing its spread and providing treatment to those that need it.

 

project: bumadanda primary school

 

population: 1O33 students

location: mbale district

cost: $3940

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summary: isolated by the long, rough roads at the foot of mt. elgon, bumadanda primary is located 15 km from the nearest electrical grid. the school’s 13 teachers often stay late into the evenings to help children study for national exams and prepare their lessons at night. with only kerosene lamps for light, however, children and teachers used to strain their eyes to work into the nighttime. the prohibitively high costs of kerosene lamps--nearly 2,000 Ugandan Shillings ($1) per day—was more than the average family’s daily income. now, with light in their classrooms, these students and teachers will not have to spend the little money they have on unsafe and unsanitary sources of light, and for the first time will have a true opportunity to improve their chance of academic success.

project: budwale medical

 

population: 8,750 people

location: mbale district

cost: $3940

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summary: budwale health center is run by dr. tom nasufwa. located over 15km from the nearest town, the clinic is cut off from other villages by rough, mountainous terrain. on our first site visit to the project, dr. nasufwa was very clear in his beliefs that solar could save lives. “i wish my health center is considered to have solar power," he said, "in order to save mothers in labor at night." this health center sees over 25 patients a day, many of whom are women seeking maternity services. nighttime births have always been a problem at budwale--the faint light of kerosene lamps is insufficient to deal with labor complications, and many lives have been lost as a result. now, with solar energy, not only can the doctor deliver children and treat patients safely at night, but we have installed a solar powered refrigerator as well. Proper refrigeration will allow the thousands of children in and around budwale to receive vaccinations against preventable disease, providing them with the opportunity for the long, healthy life they deserve.

project: thornbury bufumbo health center

 

population: 7,OOO people

location: mbale region

atus: In progress – fundraising completed

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summary: thornbury bufumbo health center is the only medical facility for several surrounding mountain villages. it was built to serve those who cannot travel the treacherous 5km road to reach a larger medical facility at the mountain’s base. head nurse hajala zandia offers 24 hour services including medical, antenatal and post natal care, and immunization services twice a week. when asked how they kept the vaccines, nurse zandia told us that they had to pick them up from the government health center. during the rainy season, if the mountain road becomes impassable, children cannot receive their vaccines and remain vulnerable to preventable disease. “we see at least 20 patients everyday” said the nurse, “but our main challenge is a source of light, especially when a mother in labor is brought at night. we have to use candles and lamps which are not only expensive, but the source of light is also poor.” with solar energy installed by jewish heart for africa, thornbury bufumbo health center now has light and a solar refrigerator to store lifesaving vaccines all year round. nurse zandia can now provide vaccines to children seven days a week, and can offer the best possible medical care to her patients at any time of day or year.