Phase 1
The Amboseli Oltome Village has a total population of 263 people and approximately 46 homes (Manyattas). The villagers have a communal way of life whereby they perform all tasks in groups. Their combined effort is what keeps the Maasai village together.
Women make colourful beaded jewellery and sell them to tourists who visit the Amboseli National Park.
During the off-peak season, the low number of tourists visiting the park translates to low sales of Maasai jewellery, hence low income for the women.
One of the challenge the villagers are faced with is the high cost of purchasing kerosene, on which they rely to get any lighting in the village after sunset. On average, villagers spend the equivalent of $20 dollars or more to ride over 100 kilometres to the market in order to buy fuel and other basic commodities for the village. Kerosene costs approximately $10 dollars per litre and the average consumption per household is about 2 litres per week.
Project_Daaylight was initiated in July 2018 in an attempt to respond to the challenges related to the lack of access to lighting system which has been impacting the lives of these communities by limiting their productivity while also exposing them to health and safety hazards. Project_Daaylight worked with the village elder, Peter, to first understand the difficulties faced by his village. It quickly became evident that access to affordable and safe energy was a major contributing factor to these realities.
We contracted GeNNex Solar, a solar energy company based in Nairobi, from which we purchased solar lanterns. GeNNex supported us with the distribution and training of villagers on the use of the lanterns.
Making an Impact.
“ At night we used the kerosene lamps but when we got the solar lamps from Project Daaylight initiative, they were very helpful. We can use the solar lamps at night when we go out to look at the goats and cows and we can now do night patrols. The kerosene lamps would be affected by weather elements such as wind and rain,making it difficult to use outside. The Solar lamps are safe to use thus preventing eye infections from smoke.”
Peter, Chief Village elder.