Our programs are positively impacting and transforming many aspects of rural community life.
Health
The Circle of Light Program through its modern energy initiative for cooking and lighting purposes in the form of LPG and 12-Volt batteries respectively has and continues to have a significant impact on the health and wellbeing of rural communities where this action has been implemented. The continued reliance on biomass as a source of energy for rural communities has adverse effects on their health.
Smoke from the burning of traditional fuels in inefficient appliances is a significant source of concentrated air pollutants, including respirable particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and a number of carcinogenic organic compounds. Particulates seem to be the primary culprit in smoke-related illnesses. In some places, the pollutant exposure levels associated with indoor biomass burning in developing countries is many times greater than generally accepted health standards.
In rural areas, family homes generally consist of multiple-use buildings, where the same room or few rooms are used for cooking, sleeping and working. In many cases, the total indoor volume is less than 40 cubic meters. These homes often have minimal ventilation, which may be further reduced during rainy seasons and cold spells. Under these circumstances, pollutants concentrations resulting from cooking can easily build up to unhealthy levels and remain that way over the course of a day. Women and children are the worst affected. In this regard therefore, the use of LPG and 12-Volt batteries for cooking and lighting purposes enhances better health on account of its safe and clean attributes.
Time saving
The use of modern energy though the circle of light energy program has improved the wellbeing of families and reduced the burden on women associated with the use and search of traditional biomass fuels such as firewood. Through the use of modern energy, families now enjoy clean, well prepared and timely meals. Thanks to the clean and efficient attributes associated with LPG as source of energy for cooking purposes.
Cooking using traditional biomass fuels takes many hours and food contamination is likely owing to the soot and other particles falling into the food. Compounding the problem is the type of cooking practiced in much of Africa. In many countries, the staple foods are grain and legume combinations that require long cooking times. In Kenya, for example, preparation of the staple maize and bean dish requires several hours of softening and slow cooking that can consume wood at the relatively high rates of 1.5 to 3.0 kg/hr. However, increased access to modern energy services in the form of LP Gas will improve the cooking in rural areas in terms of food quality and time spent in preparing the food owing to its clean and efficient attributes.
Economy
Modern energy more than ever before has and continues to play a central and integral part at all levels including national economy. Energy use is strongly linked to economic development at the local and national levels and as such is needed to create jobs, develop industries, enhance value- added economic activities and support income-earning activities in rural areas. This can in turn catalyze the creation of micro-enterprises and locally owned businesses.
Lack of modern energy sources reduces the potential for the achievement of the major structural changes in rural economies that could lead to enhanced income-generating activities and the alleviation of poverty; and this is really only possible through a transition from the use of inefficient traditional energy sources and technologies, to more efficient technologies and sources of energy.
Education
The lighting systems offered to the communities through the circle of light program have positively impacted education in families where these facilities are being used. The pupils use the lighting to study and do assignments after dark. This has improved the school grades of some pupils and this improvement has been attributed to the extended hours available to these pupils and this has been made possible by use of the circle of light systems. This is more pronounced in rural communities where which are not connected to the national power electricity grid and depend on this alternative source of energy for lighting. Circle of light has also made donations of these lighting systems to some schools in its areas of operations thus making a difference in the grades of some pupils and students.
Support of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)
Servanthood and Light Development Foundation (SELIDEF) in partnership with Community Uplift Ministries, USA, Colorado and Healing Waters International, USA, have shared in the grief and suffering of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Trans-Nzoia by making a humble contribution in kind towards this effort of improving the welfare of the IDPs.
Following the outcome of the 27th December 2007, disputed presidential elections and the subsequent violence, hundreds of thousands of Kenyans were forced to leave their homes and take refuge in Internally Displaced Persons Camps citing violence, harassment and insecurity. Trans-Nzoia, Kitale and parts of Mt. Elgon were no exception to this state of affairs.
Servanthood and Light Development Foundation (SELIDEF), under the able leadership of Mr. Nathan Chesang (Country Director) working in partnership with Community Uplift Ministries, USA, Colorado and Healing Waters International, USA, heeded to Gods call to demonstrate His LOVE to His precious people living in Internally Displaced Peoples Camps by meeting some of their essential physical needs.To this end, the IDP camps visited and supported by Servanthood and Light Development Foundation and behalf of the other partners included; Salama GSU Camp IDP camp, Salama Primary IDP camp, Matumbei, Teldet IDP camp and Kitale Show ground IDP camp. During these visits, material items were donated to the internally displaced persons and these material items included; food (bags of maize), blankets, mattresses, jericans, basins, salt, sauce pans and mats.
