Solarsense charity and overseas work

We take our social responsibility very seriously indeed. Every year we invest our time and expertise in taking direct action to selected charitable projects and areas of the world in need. We have been involved in a range of projects, all primarily in respect of using solar systems to improve sanitation, health or social facilities.

Solarsense went to Uganda in February 2005 to install a PV lighting system at Glenburnie Butega school. Whilst there we realised a need for a water supply to the school and in 2006 a team from Solarsense went back to the school and installed a solar powered water pump and rainwater storage system to supply water to the school for drinking and also so the children could learn to grow their own food. We also supplied solar power to the local medical centre, which is now up and running.

Solarsense then went to Senegal in March 2008 to help a medical charity by installing remote clinic lighting for 10 villages in the South of the country.

The team returned once more to Uganda in February 2009, and completed a PV installation on a new nursery building, paid-for by the people of Bath, and with solar installed thanks in part to generous donations from previous Solarsense customers.

 

In March 2010, a team of 4 went to the Bishop Bexell Orphanage in Tamil Nadu, India, to install solar PV panels. These provide lighting in the study and dormitories, and during our trip, they were the only lights still working when the local mains power went down. Our team members also taught the children the invaluable life skills that come with doing the 'Hokey Cokey'. A video of this event exists on Youtube.

We hosted a music evening on February 6th 2010 at the Long Ashton Church House with live music from Smokestack Shakers and other bands. It raised nearly £1000 for our India project. Thanks to all who came. The 2009 half marathon was something of a serious challenge for us all, and the £700+ raised in sponsorship was also used to great effect in India.

In February 2011 Solarsense travelled to Ethiopia where they installed solar powered medical vaccination fridge at the Beso rural medical centre in the Addis Alem region. This replaced a kerosene fridge which was smelly, unreliable and expensive to run, and allows the nurses to safely store desperately needed vaccines for the 300-odd people who rely on this small remote health clinic.

After the installation, the Solarsense team spent time training local people in managing the system and how it works, in particular how to keep the battery healthy, which is crucial for off grid solar systems. Nine people received this training, including two onsite nurses and the local electrician.


This project was in partnership with Bristol-based charity For-Ethiopia, whose Patron is Dr Alice Roberts (BBC Natural History etc). They have a Virgin Money Giving page here. The fridge was supplied by Dulas Ltd and imported with the assistance of the Oromia Regional Health Bureau. It was transferred to the site by the FDEA (For Development Ethiopia Association) whose manager, Mrs Worknesh Daba, made the whole project run like clockwork. 

A newsletter with full details of the trip can be found here, while a For-Ethiopia volunteer visited the site in September and gave an evaluation of the fridge after 6 months in use, which can be downloaded here.

To raise money for this, a team of Solarsense staff took part in the Bristol Half Marathon, on September 5th 2010. We also held another music evening on Halloween at Long Ashton Church House - again thanks to all who came and made the fundraiser a success!
We will be returning to Ethiopia again in 2012 as For-Ethiopia have identified many further remote sites which would benefit hugely from the solar powered refrigeration units.

Solarsense's Managing Director Stephen Barrett and the whole team would like to thank all who have supported projects with their donations, including;