Follow-up visits by KTF teams assess the Impact of the Light 4 Learning Program in villages in Oro & Western Province!

Round 2 of the Light 4 Learning (L4L) program which installs solar light and energy systems into communities attached to KTF’s education program was completed in May 2023. This transformative program installed safe, reliable and cheap solar light and energy systems which has impacted over 21,000+ people living in last-mile communities in Oro & Western Province. To evaluate the sustainability, effectiveness, impact, relevance, coherence and efficiency of the Light for Learning program, KTF recently sent out a team to complete over 500+ in-depth surveys with participants from 32 villages to hear about how having a solar Sun King system installed in their houses and communities has transformed their lives.

Survey results emphasised that the light for learning program is effectively implemented with a sustainable focus that delivers intended improvements in a range of development areas such as education, health and safety as well as has some unintended benefits such as improving the local economy.

All the survey responses highlighted that the Light for Learning program has had a massive effect on improving education outcomes.

“During my days this kind of service has not been implemented. Thank you KTF for supporting my people in this kind of service. The students have shown interest in attending schools unlike before.”
- Pemmy, Mother (Oro Province)

“Now I can do homework and extra studies during the night. Thanks KTF for implementing this solar project.”
- Harry, Student (Oro Province)

”As a village chief, I would like to thank KTF for this solar project, a very helpful project for this community. I have seen improvement in study habits from almost all the children and youths of this community. I appreciate the Solar Lights from KTF.”
- Bray, Village Chief (Western Province)

”As a teacher here, I have observed so many changes in my class since the light was set up for the school and the students homes. I have seen big improvement in my class so as a teacher and a parent to my kids I would like to appreciate KTF for providing the solar lights. It has made it easy for some teachers and children to complete their homework at night, work on assignments and do additional study or reading.”
- Moses, Elementary School Teacher (Western Province)

The program also installed solar light and energy systems in all community facilities including schools, churches and aid posts. Community Health Workers or Village Health Volunteers have reported that it has significantly aided the delivery of primary healthcare. Additionally, as households no longer have to rely on harmful woodfires or kerosene as an energy source, they are reporting an improvement in health outcomes in their communities.

“As a community leader and an active Village Health Volunteer, the light helped me in supporting my community. Especially with health awareness or supporting women with delivery of babies.”
- Julie, Village Health Volunteer (Oro Province)

”I have seen that now we are happy and are getting less sick compared to before”
- Harry, student (Oro Province)

”There has been some changes in the village. Especially now that we have lights we try to be healthy and keep the areas clean at all times.”
- Linda, Mother (Western Province)

”A big change in the village, now we can enjoy life in the lights, no more using of the bark for woodfire”
- Anton, Father (Western Province)

The L4L program has created numerous benefits for women and girls in villages. The solar lights allow them to feel safer in their homes and community and also allow them to study at night, and work on their small to medium enterprises (SMEs) by weaving bilums, baskets or other items to sell at the market, they are also able to bring light to their market stalls which helps them sell their products. Some villages have even reported the creation of night markets since the lights were installed.

“The project has greatly supported women. They enjoy cooking at night, doing their small SMEs, Bilums, baskets or preparing stuff to sell. Also, their safety at night is better now compared to before.”
- Terry, Community Health Worker (Oro Province)

“As a market mama, I would like to appreciate the solar lights installed in my market house. It has helped my children study during the night and others as well.”
- Brenda, Mother (Oro Province)

“Before there was too much noise, swearing and fighting. The women and girls were scared. Now, they feel safe during the night and also during the day.”
- Sonia, student (Oro Province)

”Thank you KTF for this solar light project. Now women and girls are feeling safe at night.”
- Nancy, Market stallholder (Western Province)

”For mothers, it has helped them to cook at night, operate their small table markets, and even security for them during the night.”
- Jonathan, Community Representative (Western Province)

Participants of the L4L program have been happy with the quality of the solar systems installed compared to the ones they have used before. The sustainability of the systems was a key focus when implementing, KTF only installed products that had been checked for quality and also built into the program the training of solar champions who were local community members who had been elected to be educated on system upkeep and maintenance. In Rd 2 of the Light 4 Learning program, 260+ solar champions were trained in Oro & Western Province.

“We used to use other solar lights we bought at the stores and it would run out in 2-3 months, we would refill the acid or sometimes just throw them away. The SunKing product is genuine and lasts long.”
- Julie, Village Health Volunteer (Oro Province)

”All good no issues. Everything is working well”
- Jeremiah, Mother (Western Province)

Utilising a comprehensive evaluation method of assessing the sustainability, effectiveness, impact, relevance, coherence and efficiency of the Light for Learning program we have determined that this project has achieved its intended outcomes. There have been significant benefits in education, health, safety and local economies that are transforming lives across Western and Oro Province. With the completion of Rounds 1 & 2 for Light for Learning, over 17,000+ solar lighting and energy systems have been installed across rural and remote villages in Papua New Guinea, lighting up the lives of over 86,000+ people!

”I hope this kind of service goes throughout all the provinces in PNG.” - Linda, Mother

Round 2 of the Light for Learning was made possible thanks to the generous support of the Australian Government via the Pawarim Komuniti off-grid electrification program and Puma Energy Foundation. An expansion of Light for Learning in the Balimo and Morehead catchment regions and Lake Murray Solar in Western Province is a PNG Sustainable Development Program (SDP) initiative delivered in partnership with KTF.