Youth Challenge Presents Vanuatu’s Parliament with Sola Lait

Posted on December 2, 2010 - 10:15am |
Youth Challenge Vanuatu has presented all members of parliament with a sola lait.

“It’s important that we get the knowledge of this technology out to all parts of Vanuatu” said Youth Challenge Country director Moresen Daniel, “Having the leaders of Vanuatu see how much better these sola laits are than kerosene lamps will help us do that”
The recent census showed that over 20,000 households in Vanuatu use kerosene or candles for light.
With the support of the AusAID Governece for Growth program, Youth Challenge is getting people to replace kerosene lanterns and candles with these cheaper and better solar lights.
Priscilla Samson from Youth Challenge made a presentation to the members of parliament explaining the benefits of the sola laits and why they are better than kerosene lights.
The World Health organization says that using a kerosene lantern inside has the same impact on your health as smoking two packets of cigarettes a day. There is also danger from fire caused by the lanterns tipping over. The light from kerosene or candles is poor quality making it hard to work or read.

These solar lights are 4 times bright than kerosene.
Using the free power of the sun also reduces Vanuatu’s dependence on imported kerosene that can cost up to Vt300 or more a litre on outer islands.
“We are encouraging people to buy a carton of 12 and take them back to their village over Christmas” said Morsen Daniel, “Lots of people go back to their villages this time of year and this is an opportunity for them to make some money and get these lights to remote communities where they are needed most”
Youth Challenge is selling boxes of sola lights at a discount price and including free signs to put up on your village store or house.
“Demonstrating these lights to our leaders is an excellent way of generating awareness across all of Vanuatu. This is a great and simple technology that can improve the lives of many people in Vanuatu” said Mr Daniels.

ENDS

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