No kids born in dark in Malawi
Joyce Mhango gave birth to all her six children in a dark room because her Chihame village in rural Malawi had no electricity. Everything changed when Nkhata Bay School Authority in her neighborhood won the $100,000 Zayed Future Energy Prize in 2014 in the Global Schools Africa Category. The school won the Prize for establishing a Zayed Solar Academy to train technicians who can help light up hundreds of homes in Malawi.
Mhango, who is visiting Abu Dhabi for the Sustainability Week, told Khaleej Times: “We got a solar lamp installed in our rural hospital, and the next day my grand-daughter was born, in the glow of a lamp. We named her Mir Zayed.”
Mhango, a 53-year-old widow, is one among the dozens of technicians trained by the Academy to assemble, instal and repair solar PV home systems.
“Our children had to study under candlelight or use kerosene lamps. No work could be done after sunset. But now our life has changed. We can still work in the kitchen in the night. Our women can give birth in light, all thanks to the Zayed Energy Prize,” said Mhango.
A banana seller-turned entrepreneur who is helping a solar revolution in her village, Mhango said she regards Sheikh Zayed as a leader of the world. “He has impacted thousands of life and we are grateful to him.”
Ever since winning the Prize, the Zayed Solar Academy has expanded into a technical school and has developed a solar curriculum for Malawi and is training student and families in solar energy. “We have helped electrify nearly 100 homes so far in our village including four schools. It is a work in progress and we want to impact more communities around us,” said Wifred Ngwira, a board member of the Academy.
Our kids had to study under candlelight or kerosene lamp. No work could be done after sunset. But now our life has changed.” Mhango, a 53-year-old widow