ACDT Newsletter

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

Email

[email protected]

[email protected]

Website.

acdt.webs.com

Facebook

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