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Solar Home Light System – Phase I

Installation and repairs – solar powered Lighting and refrigeration systems

Konta Line - Sierra LeoneIn May 2005, SFYDP provides the Konta Line with solar home light systems and solar lanterns. A caretaker committee known as ‘the Konta Line Solar Home Light Management Committee (KSHMC),which consists of inhabitants of Kontaline and representatives from Safer Future was formed to ensure the proper handling of the systems and to be a guarantor, ensuring the terms of the contract between the beneficiaries and Safer Future are upheld.

Konta Line - Sierra LeoneThe (KSHMC) selected the households which will get a home light system based on the agreement set up by the town committee and the community members and together with Safer Future handled the contract details with the head of each beneficiary household.

A solar home light system serves as a clean, safe and powerful source of light for the households involved in the project. The system consists of a fixed solar panel, a battery and 4 fixed solar lamps per system. The lanterns/lamps have a built-in battery which is charged through a portable panel.

With the installation of the solar lighting systems, the situation for the school children in the community improved significantly; now they have proper light for doing their homework and studies  in the evenings. Each lamp or lantern caters for 10 children for their studies and other activities. The communities can now hold meetings after 7 p.m. to discuss development and religious places also benefit from these systems.

The lamps and lanterns do not pollute the environment with any emissions, noise or smell. The users are saved from the ever increasing kerosene costs and, therefore, the energy source is potentially available to all families. The handling of the lanterns is simple and the materials are well made ensuring a life span of the system of up to 20 years or more.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES FOR SLE

The Safer Future Youth Development Programme has actively researched and implemented alternative energy sources in Sierra Leone, especially in the rural communities where people have no access to any kind of electricity. About 90% of people in the rural communities cannot afford to purchase generators because the maintenance costs are very high; pollution from such sources is likewise significant. Traditionally, the only source of light is candles, open fires and kerosine lamps, which are not suitable for the efficient supply of light and are very dangerous to life and properties. Limited access to energy and light means generally less time for children to study and for other activities for the entire community. However, the natural conditions in the country are well suited to the use of solar technology and it is proving an effective and cost-efficient solution to sustainable energy needs in the country.

With funding from Sunshine Fellowship, Safer future had tow (2) staff, Idriss S. Kamara and Moray Hengoi, trained at the Barefoot College in India, specializing in Basic Solar Engineering. With their knowledge and solar equipment, Safer Future installed solar power in the rural community of Kontaline, Koya Rural District and as well as establish the Rural Electronic Workshop in Nyangbatown, near Joe Town.

Installation and Repairs – Solar Powered Lighting and Refrigeration Systems

UNICEF

SFYDP continues to enjoy its partnership with UNICEF in the areas of training, installation and repairs of solar lighting and refrigeration systems in Peripheral Health Units(PHUs) and communities

Through funds provided by UNICEF in 2006/2007 SFYDP was able to train 10 district operation officers of the District Health Management Team(DHMT)/Ministry Of Health and Sanitation(MOHS) on installation, repair and maintenance of photovoltaic refrigerators in Bo, Kailahun, Pujehun, Bonthe, Moyamba, Kenema and Western Area Districts

In 2008 SFYDP implemented the project title: Support to enhance Cold Chain and Vaccine management for Child survival and safe motherhood, training 26 District Health Management Team (DHMT) solar refrigerator vaccine technicians and 710 Peripheral Health Units(PHU) personnel in their district of operations and provided user’s training manuals to solar vaccine refrigerator systems technicians

In 2010 “Provision of support to solar evaluation and refreshers’ training in 13 districts”

In 2011 Repaired wells and installed solar submersible pumps in 5 BeMONC in Port Loko district

In 2012 Installation of solar submersible pumps in BeMONC

With funds from UNICEF, our solar engineers trained Ten (10) staff of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation as District solar Technicians on the Installation, Maintenance and Repair of solar powered vaccines refrigeration systems for rural health facilities in the Eastern and Southern region of the country. We also installed and repair solar vaccine refrigerator systems in over 500 PHUs in the country.

Concern Worldwide

Concern Worldwide provided funding for the solar electrification of PHUs in Tonkolili district.

 

 

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Origins

  History

The Safer Future Youth Development Programme was first conceived as a youth initiative project between Sierra Leoneans and Austrians. Leading to the formation of SFYDP were Idriss S. Kamara (Executive Director) and Martin Strele (Overseas Coordinator, Advisor). The SFYDP was specifically established to cater for the unemployed, illiterate young people who out of frustration are engage in crime. SFYDP provides free education to these impoverished youths, thus breaking the cycle of illiteracy and poverty, establishing an opportunity for real and sustainable change within communities.safer center old

SFYDP has contributed immensely in the development of rural communities through the provision of water supply and electricity. This has been made possible due to the many committed volunteers who have dedicated their time, expertise and enthusiasm to the vision of the founders.

1993
– Founding of Safer Future Youth Training Programme as a youth initiative.
– Establishment of the Safer Future Youth Training and Vocational Institute at Lower Allen Town with courses in Tailoring and Dressmaking, Carpentry, Joinery and Baking.

sf_reis1994
– Safer Future acquired a thirty-one (31) acre farm land    located in Nyangbatown, Koya Rural District (off Waterloo). This has enabled the practical training for students pursuing agricultural studies with our training institute. The produce is sold for the continuity of the training.

2000
– The Safer Future Youth Development Project won the “Regional Commonwealth Youth Service Award” and the “Pan COMMON WEALTH AWARD CERT 2000 001Commonwealth Youth Award”.

The prize money was used to construct an additional building in which the administrative office, a computer lab and two other classrooms are located. The money was also used for the introduction of a Mobile Skills Training for Rural Communities, with the villages of Kontaline, Moyaebana, and Moyaewa in the Bonthe District beneficiaries of training in soap making and Gara Tye Dye.

2003-2004
Two staff of Safer Future under sponsored by the Sunshine Fellowship Austria, were trained in Solar Engineering and Rooftop Rainwater Harvesting at the Barefoot College, India.

2005

These trained Solar Technicians on their return demonstrated their skills by installing Solar home light systems with lanterns in twenty (20) rural community houses and constructed two (2) Underground Rainwater Harvesting Tanks each with a capacity of 100,000 litres at the Faith In Christ Primary School and Safer Future Vocational Training Institute to serve students and neighbors during the dry season in the absence of pipe borne water supply.img_0137

Life Water International provide training for staff of Safer Future in Water and sanitation, covering the construction of Hand-dug wells, installation and maintenance of hand pumps, and the promotion of hygiene and sanitation.

2006
A pilot project of Hand pump rehabilitation at the Ahmadiyya Primary School in Malaisoko, Koya Rural District, was realized through sponsorship from Blue Planet Run Foundation.

Safer Future established the Competence Centre for Renewable Energy (CCRE) at Nyangba town. The first rural electronic workshop to provide training in Basic Electronics and Solar Engineering, The first organization to provide solar energy training nationwide with students from Sudan, Nigeria and Cameroon.

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SFYDP has been working assiduously in partnership with partners in the successful implementation of Projects that contribute to the improvement of the rural poor in Sierra Leone.

Below are series of project carried out through funds provided by partner organizations both at home and abroad

In 2006/07, SFYDP organized a training on solar and electronics for 10 under-served and under privileged boys in rural communities at its Agric Centre in Nyangba Town, Koya rural District through funds provided by War Child, Sunshine Fellowship in Austria and SFYDP in Sierra Leone

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In the same years SFYDP trained 10 District Health Management Team (DHMT) staff on solar installations, repairs and maintenance with funds from UNICEF.

In 2007, through funds provided by UNICEF, SFYDP was able to train 26 DHMT staff on Installation, maintenance and repairs of Dulas VC 150 and VC 65 for 3 months and 710 other Health workers in the daily use and simple maintenance of Dulas VC 65 fridgesCOMMON WEALTH REGIONAL AWARD

In 2007 Safer Future Youth Development Programme(SFYDP) was awarded the African region Silver Award.

In 2008/09 SFYDP successfully completed the implementation of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene(WASH) Project in 100 Communities in the Port Loko and Moyamba Districts respectively through funds provided by UNICEF.

In 2008, with funds from peer water by then, now Blue Planet Network repaired and maintenance wells in 30 communities in the Koya Chiefdom, Port Loko District

In 2008, through funds provided by UNICEF, SFYDP implemented ”support to enhance cold chain and vaccine management for child survival and safe motherhood” Project in the country

Also, SFYDP successfully implemented the community capacity building project which provided training and start-up kits for over 20 members of the Makarey community and a solar charging station with solar lantern for each household through funds provided by Hildegard Breiner in Austria

In 2009, SFYDP implemented a Project funded by EAWAG/SANDEC in Switzerland on household water implementation and formation of health clubs in schools to enhance solar water Disinfection (SODIS) and proper hygiene promotion in Sierra Leone

In 2010, SFYDP implemented the SODIS technology for 10,000 beneficiaries in the Western Area and Koya rural through funds provided by EAWAC/SANDEC in Switzerland

In 2010/11UNICEF funded SFYDP in the implementation of increasing access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene improvement in 150 communities in 3 districts (Port Loko, Moyamba and Bombali) districts and provision of support to solar vaccine fridges’ evaluation and refresher training in 13 districts

2010/12 – With funds from UNICEF, SFYDP implemented water, sanitation and hygiene Project in 6 schools in Port Loko district.

2012-During the outbreak of  cholera in the country, SFYDP installed solar powered water supply systems in Moribaya community where the incidence of cholera was reported. The project was funded by UNICEF.

SFYDP also implemented the WASH in schools project in 28 schools in the Port Loko, Moyamba districts respectively.

In 2014 during the Ebola outbreak, SFYDP constructed and installed a motorized water supply system at the Newton Ebola Holding Centre. The project was funded by Concern Worldwide

With funds provided by Concern Worldwide, SFYDP supplied and installed solar power lighting systems at the Mabang and Mathoir Peripheral Health Units in Mabang and Yoni chiefdoms in Tonkolili district,

supplied and installed solar powered lighting systems at Magburaka Government Hospital (MGH) in Tonkolili district,

Also,Supplied and repaired vaccine fridges in five(5) Peripheral Health Units(PHUs) in Tokolili district.

2014- With funds provided by UNICEF, SFYDP during the outbreak of the Ebola virus in the country constructed community care centres in Masongbo in the Makarie Gbanti chiefom, Bombali district and Gandorhun, Gbane chiefdom in the Kono district

In 2015,SFYDP with funds provided by UNICEF, rehabilitated a Community Care Centre(CCC) in Kambia at the outbreak of  Ebola in the country,

Constructed water tower and installed a motorized solar water supply system at the Mile 91 Holding Centre.

2015-With funds provided by Concern Worldwide, SFYDP installed solar submersible pump systems at two PHUs(Waterloo and Campbel town) and one school(Nelson Mandela Secondary School in Waterloo, Western Area. Also, replaced an electric submersible pump to solar pump at the Newton Community Health Centre.

2015- In combating the Ebola virus in the country, World Health Organisation(WHO) funded SFYDP in the Mass erection and installation of solar Photo voltaic systems for trial vaccine fridges in the Western Area, Port Loko,Bombali and Tonkolili districts.

 

Safer at a glance

Safer Future Youth Development ProjectThe Safer Future Youth Development Programme (SFYDP) is a registered non-profit, non-governmental, interdenominational, local Organisation geared towards improving the lives of young people. The SFYDP was formed due to the poor quality of  living standards that even led to a decade long war. The ideology of this Project is to improve the lives of marginalised and deprived youths by providing free education in different technical and vocational skills. This training enables students to provide for themselves, while helping to reconstruct the poor economy and social conditions. Furthermore, the SFYDP strives to develop and maintain infrastructure in rural and remote areas by introducing alternate energy sources, mainly solar energy, providing life-skills training in secluded communities and improving the water situation by implementing rainwater harvesting systems, constructing and repairing water wells.

 SFYDP work with the Ministries of Youths; Education, Science and Technology, Finance and Economic Development and is a registered member of the Sierra Leone Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (SLANGO) and Sierra Leone Farmers Association.

Its membership is open to any individual or group wishing to assist in the empowerment of young people in rural communities, especially through training programmes on self reliance, sustainability and dependability.

Project Activities

Focus on Rural Development

img_0152People living in a developing country like Sierra Leone, which remains heavily  affected by the destructions of the war, lack not only of poor education and insufficient work, but mostly suffer from bad water supply, insufficient sanitation and poor health care. Safer Future strives to help the marginalised and deprived rural poor to improve the living conditions in the rural areas by (re-)creating the necessary infrastructure and also by training community inhabitants in repairing and maintaining the facilities.
Furthermore, sensitisation and the implementation of community based care-taking committees shall guarantee proper handling and for this reason the best possible life duration.

With theafrikasl0864 introduction of alternate energy sources in Sierra Leone, the Safer Future Youth Development Project aims to create a non-polluting, long lasting way of providing power through solar energy, which is affordable for even the poorest people.For the rural population who are mostly farmers, it is difficult to gain enough money for the education of their children or for covering the costs in case medical treatment is needed. Training in soap making and Gara Tye, as well as equipping them with basic tools, as is the aim Safer Future, gives the possibility to deal with the rising costs.

For each of the different fields, there are specially trained staff members within the Youth Development Project.