Solar Light For Africa - Part 2

by Peyton Hoffman
Media & Industry Relations

In the first part of this blog series, I covered the trek to Karamoja and solar light installation in one of the most remote villages of the world. This is what happened after we left Karamoja....

After a week and a half of long, hot work days, mosquito nets, cold showers, and amazing times with the Karamojong, it was bittersweet to leave this town. On our last night in Moroto (45 mins outside Karamoja, and the closest town), we climbed the mountain dividing Kenya and Uganda, watched the sunset, and ate dinner (roasted goat- a thank you gift from the Karamojong). It was spectacular to be standing on the mountain that divides two great countries in Africa and look out on the land as far as my eyes could see. Our Special Forces guards informed us that many rebel tribes live on the top ridge of the mountain border, so we were unable to climb over to Kenya. That being said, that mountain was a great way to end the week and a great way to start the next leg of our trip.

We left our mountain retreat in Morota/Karamoja and traveled the 5+ hour trip to Mbale. We had planned to take a shorter route that would take us through the mountain waterfalls of that region, but unfortunately, rains the night before had washed the road away. Mbale is a beautiful, up and coming, metropolitan area of Uganda. The town is fully alive: bustling with markets, hotels, families, and football (soccer in America) everywhere. Mbale also has hot water and Internet access, so I'm a little partial to it! After a quick overnight, and early morning run with our guards through the town at 3,000 ft, we were off to Jinja & Zziba for our next work site.

Zziba is a very small village outside of Jinja, filled with thousands of orphaned and abandoned children. Set against a glorious backdrop of sugar cane farms, we worked to install solar light in both the orphanage and clinic here. There were two common stories from the children: either both parents were dead from HIV/AIDS, or the mother was dead and the father was an alcoholic and couldn't care for them. These children live full time at the orphanage, are fed three meals a day, washed, clothed, and attend school through age fourteen.

The first day in Zziba, we installed solar light throughout the orphanage. It was amazing to come back the next day and hear stories from the children of their first night with light! They were all amazed by it and so excited to know they would have that each day forward. The second day in Zziba, we worked on installing solar light in the clinic across the street from the orphanage. The nearest hospital is over two hours away, so this clinic, once completed and licensed in Fall 2012, will be the only medical office in the area. The people of Zziba celebrated their new solar light with dancing, music and lots of food each day we were there. We also had a chance to spend some time with the children at the orphanage- truly amazing children with dreams of being, artists, doctors, lawyers, musicians, anything their brains can imagine.

Our time in Zziba wrapped up much too quickly, but it was time to head back to Kampala for a few days before we left. Stay tuned tomorrow for Part 3: Kampala- First Lady Museveni, markets, parties and more!

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Solar Light For Africa - Part 2

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