Solar Empowered Schools is an initiative that uses sustainable energy to improve academic performance in primary and secondary rural schools in Africa by providing them with solar lanterns so that students who lack access to electricity can extend their study time.

Solar Empowered School (SES) identifies schools located in rural communities around Africa that are hindered by availability of artificial lighting. SES then distributes solar lanterns to the schools’ students, and trains them on how to improve their academic performance and on how to maintain the lanterns given to them.Training on improving study habits is held in the communities where the lanterns are distributed. The training teaches children how to improve their academic performance by reading extra hours in the evening. SES harnesses the “mentor-your-junior” model to facilitate learning from the community’s brightest student to ensure the rest are well brought up.

SES is careful to empower local people to maintain and support the technology and solutions it plants in the various communities it reaches. SES focuses on women and youths in particular, with the hope it is creating entrepreneurs.

* Africa Sustainable Energy Association * Nigeria Alternative energy Consortium * Southern Africa Alternative Energy Association