SUN TO RUN COMPUTERS FOR SIERRA LEONE SCHOOL

An alumni association in the U.S. state of Georgia is making a donation to its alma mater. Not interesting? How about if it’s the Prince Of Wales Alumni Association (POWAA)? Still not interesting?

How about if it’s the Prince of Wales Secondary School in Freetown, Sierra Leone, they’re making the donation to? And the donation is computers and a solar energy system to run the computers. Still not excited?

How about if the record shows a similar donation to Myeka School in South Africa from the Solar Electric Light Fund in the year 2000 raised pass rates from 55% to 69%?

A $70,000 donation (tax deductible!) raises a whole school’s pass rate 14%! That’s the price of one student in a lot of private western schools. $70,000 pays for maybe half a dozen students in most U.S. public schools. In Africa, it could turn an entire school around.

A mind is a terrible thing to waste, right? For lack of a few computers and a few solar panels, a whole continent is going to waste and doesn’t have to.

There is no lack of sun. (click to enlarge)

Sierra Leone set for solar-powered school PC center; Plans are set to install the first computer center powered by solar energy in Sierra Leone
May 26, 2008 (IDG)

WHO
The Prince Of Wales Alumni Association (POWAA) of Georgia (in the U.S.) (Samuel O. Atere-Roberts, President); the Prince Of Wales (POW) Secondary School (Millicent Ogoo, Principal)

click to enlarge

WHAT
The POWAA will donate funds to supply the POW Secondary School with computers and a solar energy system to power them.

WHEN
- Installation awaits the vagaries of shipping.
- POWAA was founded in 2002.
- A similar system was installed in Myeka High School in 2000.

click to enlarge

WHERE
- POW Secondary School is less than 1/3 of a mile from Freetown’s Kingtom Power Station but gets no electrical power.
- Myeka High School is in South Africa.

WHY
- The donation will cover desktop and laptop computers, a solar system and high-speed satellite internet access.
- The donation will be $60,000 to $70,000.
- The solar system will be 30 photovoltaic (PV) panels with a 5 to 6 kilowatt capacity as well as batteries, three charge controllers, inverters, meter and breakers.
- The system will purchased through African Energy (Arizona).
Sky Construction in Freetown will build security facilities for the classroom.

Computers and solar electricity meant a 14% jump in pass rates! (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
Millicent Ogoo, Principal, POW Secondary School: "We’ve been getting support from organizations but this is the first time we’ll be getting a solar power system. We are also expecting 20 laptops next week. We are very proud of the project. They have really done well. It also shows that they have concern for the school…"