Solar @ STEKA

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STEKA (Step Kids Awareness) is a grass roots Malawian charity which creates sustainable futures for homeless and vulnerable children. It’s lead by Godknows Maseko (who escaped from traffickers and lived on the streets as a child) and his wife Helen, who campaign tirelessly for children’s rights, gender equality and against early marriage.

 

img_4825STEKA children are valued as human beings with rights not as passive objects of care and charity. They are loved and cared for in a family environment.

Solar energy produces no pollution, has no environmental effects and is ecologically acceptable. Solar is one of the most widely used renewable source of energy, especially in Malawi where electricity is scarce due to poor infrastructure. STEKA currently convert solar energy into electricity inside the house.

A solar-powered pump is a pump running on electricity generated by photovoltaic panels from collected sunlight as opposed to grid electricity or diesel run water pumps (costing money!). The operation of solar powered pumps is more economical mainly due to the lower operation and maintenance costs and has less environmental impact than pumps powered by an internal combustion engine (ICE). Solar pumps are incredibly useful where grid electricity is unavailable and alternative sources (in particular wind) do not provide sufficient energy. Solar STEKA has been launched!

If you are interested in co-funding this project with our small Scottish NGO (Registered SC039598) please get in touch via kenyawikidsinfo@gmail.com or visit our website www.kenyawi-kids.com

Currently STEKA house in Blantyre, Malawi houses 65 former street children. The building collects solar energy through the panels on the roof which power the lights and sockets. This is particularly useful during evening hours of darkness (anytime from 5pm-5am) to power the external security lighting and to allow the older children to study/little ones enjoy bedtime stories and songs in safety. The next step in our development is to find funding for a borehole driller to deepen the current well we have and to install a solar powered pump which will pump water into two large storage tanks to reduce electricity and water board costs for the home.

Borehole Drilling:                                £3000 (completed June 2017)

Solar pump and installation:        £3500

Water tank:                                              £370

Total project cost: £6,870            (£3,500 remaining to fundraise to complete the installation)

STEKA stands for Step-Kids Awareness Incorporated (as many homeless and vulnerable children are step children) and is a registered Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) charity number TR/INC: 3069 under the Child Reform and Development Assistance sector in Malawi.
If you are interested in co-funding this project with our small Scottish NGO (Registered SC039598) please get in touch via kenyawikidsinfo@gmail.com or visit our website www.kenyawi-kids.com

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