UAE’S GIFT OF LIGHT FOR REMOTE ISLAND OFF BANGLADESH
▶ About 5,000 people there are expected to benefit from the Zayed Sustainability Prize winning campaign
Thousands of men, women and children who have been living in the dark in an isolated Bangladeshi city were given the gift of light yesterday.
Hazarbighar Char Island is home to 5,000 people and has long been off the grid because of its remote location.
Its inhabitants are the latest beneficiaries of the Zayed Sustainability Prize initiative, Guiding Light, which will distribute 10,000 solar lanterns to off-grid communities across Indonesia, Bolivia, Bangladesh and Kenya.
“We have selected remote off-grid areas in a part of Bangladesh,” said Dipal Barua, the man behind the initiative. “There is no electricity on the island and it is unlikely they will get connected soon.
“Most of the people are poor and disadvantaged. We believe that the lanterns that we are going to distribute will be very helpful and useful to them.”
Fishermen, women who are living in poverty, children, health care workers, pupils and local shopkeepers will all benefit from the 2,000 lanterns that are expected to light up every household on the island.
“The lights will improve health care as it will allow the extension of working hours in health centres. In case of an emergency at night, they will be able to use them.
“Education will improve too, because students will be able to study at night. Women’s security may also improve. Previously they walked long distances in the dark.”
The lights are expected to benefit the island’s economy as shopkeepers and fishermen will be able to extend their working hours.
“The lanterns are transferable, so if someone needs to go to the washroom at night they can carry the lantern with them,” Mr Barua said.
He won the first Zayed Sustainability Prize in 2009, when it was called the Zayed Future Energy Prize. At the time, his idea was to enable 245,000 solar energy systems to be built in Bangladesh.
Guiding Light, in its current form, was launched in Bahrain during a ceremony on December 5.
The first batch of lanterns were taken for distribution in Indonesia, where they were donated to communities that were affected by this year’s earthquake and tsunami.
Two-thousand lanterns were distributed to 1,179 Indonesian homes, benefiting 5,112 people.
Bolivia was the next beneficiary, with lanterns distributed to pupils and families living in San Juan, where they had limited or no access to a power grid.
“Logistics can always be a bit of an issue with regard to any activity in Bolivia,” said Katsumi Bani, general co-ordinator for Guiding Light in Bolivia and a former two-term mayor of San Juan.
“But in terms of people on the ground – teachers, students and community members – and the support of the prize’s administration team, it has been a fantastically co-ordinated effort.
“The donation will have an immediate impact on thousands living in the municipality of San Juan, which makes this campaign worth every effort.
“Accessing these lanterns will further increase the interest of the entire population of the municipality in sustainable solutions. The government has
Education will improve too, because students will be able to study at night DIPAL BARUA Winner of Zayed Future Energy Prize in 2009
a target to achieve a self-sustaining society.”
Mercedes Almendras, director of Global High Schools, won the sustainability prize last year. “The distribution of the solar lanterns will create greater awareness of the importance of the use of renewable resources and raise the quality of life for many families,” Ms Almendras said.
“In all the rural schools of San Juan, these lanterns will serve as teaching material and support to improve the performance in the teaching and learning process.
“Mothers will be able to have more time for housework and helping the development of the family, especially in the education of their children.”
After Bangladesh, the lanterns will be distributed in Kenya and the campaign will conclude in the UAE on January 9.