2019

In 2018, GLOW will partner with SunTransfer Kenya (STKE) to implement our first Solar Powered Feeding Program, as well as our version of One Light, One Child Program in schools.

 Solar Powered Feeding Program:

GLOW will donate the initial funds to purchase a solar powered water pump for one public school and one private school in rural areas of Kenya.
This pump will be used for the school to grow their own food to supplement their existing feeding program, which provides lunches for all 400 children who attend this school. 
Currently, the school asks each child to bring 5 kg of beans and 7 kgs of maize per term.
This equates to about 700 ksh ($7) of food per child, per term. 
There are three terms each year, which means each child brings in about $21 worth of food for the school year. 
After installing the pump, we will be able to dramatically reduce that fee whilst still recovering the entire cost of the pump. 
Each child will be asked to bring in 200 ksh ($2) per term to repay the total cost of the pump, as well as the cost of seeds and other equipment it takes to complete the harvest. 
Once the pump is paid off in full, the same fee will continually be collected to ensure there is a comfortable cushion of funds for technical support and/or replacement of parts. This amount will also cover the cost of seeds per term. 
If the children and the parents enjoy the program, they will have the option to purchase another pump to produce on even more land- using the excess harvest to sell in an effort to continually grow the school funding for other needs. 
After the pump is paid back to STKE in full, then another school can have the same opportunity to join the program, as well. 





​One Light, One Child:

GLOW will donate the funds to purchase 150 - 200 portable solar powered lamps for one public school and one private school in rural Kenya. 
These lights will be available for rental on a monthly basis by the students. Each light has a rental fee of 50 ksh ($0.50) each month. The first students who pay these fee will be able to bring the solar lamp home each night to study. 
Every child with a light is required to bring it back to school each day to charge the battery. If they don't bring the light back, they won't be able to charge it- and the light won't work. 
If a child doesn't pay for the rental fee, then they will not be able to bring the light home. This will renew on a monthly basis, unless a family is interested in paying for the entire term upfront. 
The rental fees collected will be deposited into a new school savings account used ONLY for technical support for the lights. 
For instance, if the battery dies, or an entire light needs replacing- there will be more than enough in the account to supplement these needs. 
If or when a family sees the benefit of having clean, green and limitless light in their households, and they are interested in BUYING the light- then we will set up a payment plan for purchase. Once it's paid off, they won't need to pay the rental fee- and the light will be free. 
Once the total cost of the light is paid off, then then the school will buy another lamp so the program can continue to grow and more children will be able to join. 
STKE implemented a One Light, One Child Program in 2013 that was successful for the first two years, in that test scores went up dramatically, and attendance increased.
However, given that the technology was less advanced than it is today- the batteries died after about two years.
The school and the families didn't have the funds to purchase new ones, because STKE had simply donated the lights, rather than implementing a rental fee. 
By enforcing a rental fee, not only do the children and the families VALUE the product more- but the project also becomes financially sustainable and long-lasting, as well.
Plus, solar technology has advanced greatly in the last five years, which means the batteries will last more than twice as long as before, and the cost for one lamp is about half as much.