Electrification of the schools of Vohitrarivo, Ambohipo, and Ambodimana and of the base camp of the Helpsimus association

Facts

Location Vohitrarivo, Ambohipo, and Ambodimana, Madagascar
Impact Solar electrification, education development and environmental protection
Organisation Electriciens sans frontières

Madagascar has an extremely low electricity access rate of about 5% in rural areas. This means around 15 million inhabitants (out of a general population of 25 million) live without access to electricity. This not only hinders their economic development and business productivity, but also their human development (comfort of life, health conditions, education).

The schools of Vohitrarivo, Ambohipo, and Ambodimana are located in an isolated, rural area, where access is very difficult due to the poor conditions of the 16 km long track. It is an unprotected area, adjacent to Ranomafana National Park, which is home to the largest population of greater bamboo lemurs. The local community is made of peasants who mainly practice agriculture, including rice growing, whose expansion threatens the lemurs’ natural habitat. The main challenge is therefore to bridge the gap between the needs of local populations and the needs of lemurs in order to guarantee a sustainable cohabitation between humans and the natural environment.

The project of solar electrification of schools by Electriciens sans frontières is part of the education component of the program, aiming at supporting the schools of the region to offer quality education to its pupils, and by raising awareness as well as training actions for environmental protection. Beyond education, the program includes local development activities aimed at finding solutions to meet the needs of the local population. Within this framework, the partner of Electriciens sans frontières is developing actions to support agriculture, such as the establishment of crop guarding (risk of degradation by animals), and the development of new income-generating activities (ecotourism, handicrafts), with the aim of giving local communities sufficient resources to live with and protect the natural habitat of the greater bamboo lemurs. Regarding energy facilities, the local population has no access to electricity, and water is drawn directly from a river. The Helpsimus association has built toilets, especially in schools, and provides training in hygiene and health (water and waste management).

Objectives and planned activities

Images from Electriciens sans frontières first mission carried out in 2019

In a context of great energy poverty, the solar electrification of 5 schools in the area aims at improving the educational conditions of the students and facilitating raised awareness of environmental protection. Two schools have already been electrified by Electriciens sans frontières during a first mission carried out at the end of 2019, which enabled the corroboration of local energy needs. The remaining three schools of Vohitrarivo, Ambohipo, and Ambodimana, will therefore be equipped with photovoltaic installations during a next mission scheduled for 2022.

The installations for each school will include:

  • A photovoltaic production system of 800 Wp
  • Interior lighting bulbs
  • Outdoor lighting point
  • Power outlets for a computer and a video projector
  • Socket for telephone charging

Electriciens sans frontières will also provide training on electrical risks, maintenance of the installations and use of the equipment, and is committed to monitoring the project for a minimum of 10 years’ time to ensure the proper functioning of the installations. The electrification of the three schools will contribute to improving the educational conditions of the students through the implementation of educational activities such as the projection of films, the lighting of two classrooms allowing extended duration and use of classes, and awareness training of the students to raise the importance of preserving the ecosystem and protect the local biodiversity.

ABOUT Electriciens sans frontières

Electriciens sans frontières, French international NGO and registered charity, has been fighting against inequalities of access to electricity and water throughout the world since 1986. With the support of 1300 volunteers and through partnerships with local actors and using renewable energies, they make access to electricity a lever for human and economic development.

Read more about Electriciens sans frontières here.