Solar4Kitava
Donation protected
First, a little geography
Kitava is a small island 6km long and 4km wide. It's part of the Trobriand Island Archipelago, off the east cost of Papua New Guinea, north of Australia. The island's economy is almost entirely subsistance-based
(agriculture and fishing). Life expectancy is low and infant mortality is high.
After first visiting Kitava in June 2015, and seeing first-hand the absence of reticulated water and mains-electricity, I wanted to help my hosts improve their community's livelihoods.
Success so far
I soon raised $3,750 for three 9,000l rainwater tanks for Lalela village (one of three villages on the island). After much delay - largely due to political turmoil in the intervening period - the tanks were delivered in early 2017. You can read more about the rainwater project here .
Let there be light...and electricity!
I'm returning to Kitava for a third trip in July 2017 (entirely self-funded) to deliver three solar generators and panels. I've raised $1,300 of the $4,000 or so needed to purchase the generators (one each village) and panels.
Solar will help defray the cost of buying and importing diesel for the handful of diesel generators on the island . Money saved could be reinvested elsewhere; health-care training, or more rainwater tanks, for example.
The silent solar generators will provide portable emissions-free electricity for charging mobile phones (important for trade between the Trobriand Islands); night-time light for students, or; illumination during night-time births, for example. You can read more about the solar project at the same link above, or on my personal website here .
This is a small project which will make a significant difference to the livelihoods and well-being of the Kitavan community.
Thank you : )
Kitava is a small island 6km long and 4km wide. It's part of the Trobriand Island Archipelago, off the east cost of Papua New Guinea, north of Australia. The island's economy is almost entirely subsistance-based
(agriculture and fishing). Life expectancy is low and infant mortality is high.
After first visiting Kitava in June 2015, and seeing first-hand the absence of reticulated water and mains-electricity, I wanted to help my hosts improve their community's livelihoods.
Success so far
I soon raised $3,750 for three 9,000l rainwater tanks for Lalela village (one of three villages on the island). After much delay - largely due to political turmoil in the intervening period - the tanks were delivered in early 2017. You can read more about the rainwater project here .
Let there be light...and electricity!
I'm returning to Kitava for a third trip in July 2017 (entirely self-funded) to deliver three solar generators and panels. I've raised $1,300 of the $4,000 or so needed to purchase the generators (one each village) and panels.
Solar will help defray the cost of buying and importing diesel for the handful of diesel generators on the island . Money saved could be reinvested elsewhere; health-care training, or more rainwater tanks, for example.
The silent solar generators will provide portable emissions-free electricity for charging mobile phones (important for trade between the Trobriand Islands); night-time light for students, or; illumination during night-time births, for example. You can read more about the solar project at the same link above, or on my personal website here .
This is a small project which will make a significant difference to the livelihoods and well-being of the Kitavan community.
Thank you : )
Organizer
Marc D Bowden
Organizer
Naenae, NZ
