Yearoutindia, Volunteer Travel & Discover

Background:

Yearoutindia's Solar light project is a direct outcome of our community development projects at the Mannan tribal settlement. This need was identified by ex Yearoutindia volunteers who worked at the settlement last year. After an initial project study, a detailed project plan was devised to help source and install Solar/LED lighting systems that were appropriate for the settlement. The village elders and the Mannan King were fully supportive of the project and Yearoutindia has started the campaign to fundraise for this project.

Solar energy: the healthy & sustainable way forward.

The Mannan has no access little access to electricity and is fully reliant on kerosene lamps as the sole source of fuel and lighting. LPG is too expensive and difficult to come by even with Govt subsidies. The next best option is Kerosene which is expensive, inefficient and toxic. The current electricity supply provided by the state is only available to a limited few and the rest of the settlement cannot financially afford to have electricity connections to their huts.

The majority of homes in rural India are poorly ventilated, leaving the occupants exposed to harmful particles emitted by the lamps. The health of household occupants, mainly women and children whom are home bound with domestic duties suffer prolonged exposure to smoke and spent fuel. The burning of kerosene in unvented situations - indoors - is a major atmospheric pollutant that results in illness (acute respiratory infections: influenza and pneumonia) and in extreme cases death. Accidents are common, and in India 2.5 million people (350,000 children) suffer severe burns each year primarily from upturned lamps. Furthermore, many homes are raised to the ground when a lamp is toppled.

Kerosene is a very poor source of illumination. Children study using kerosene lamps which emit smoke and fumes that are toxic (as children directly breathe in lamp fumes while studying) and they are poor lighting substitute (0.03 watts) causing eyestrain and directly affecting literacy outcomes. Solar/LED produces nearly 200 times more useful white light than a kerosene lamp and help schoolchildren achieve higher grades, and increases productivity for cottage industries.

In India, nearly 100 million homes illuminate their houses using kerosene as the primary lighting source. Each litre spent of kerosene produces 2.6kg of carbon dioxide which contributes 22 million tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually. In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, the UN says a single wick lamp each year burns about 80 litres of kerosene, which produces more than 205kg of carbon dioxide. The aim of the project is also to greatly reduce the carbon dioxide emissions of each house hold in the settlement. Solar energy eliminates the reliance on fossil fuel products (i.e. kerosene) and therefore strives to divorce itself from the carbon cycle.

Kerosene use consumes a significant proportion of a finite household budget per year. The cost per household for kerosene is significant as each household in Mannan Settlement burns approximately 50 litres per annum at a cost of Rs.18 per litre (government subsidized) which correlates to Rs 950 (over USD$ 20) per year. Although a small amount relative to Western currency, it translates to a substantial amount in cash poor communities.

The majority of villagers are reliant upon subsistence agriculture with some households involved in seasonal labour to meet daily household needs. Financial resources are limited to buying essentials that cannot be grown or procured from the forest, therefore solar lighting is well beyond most people's monetary capabilities. However, people at the Mannan settlement acknowledge the health issues associated with kerosene use and seek a viable alternative.


Cooking in the dark	Women in the Kitchen	Children palying	Working in the dark

Our Project Aims

The project aims initially to effectively and efficiently provide environmentally appropriate and affordable solar technology to the residents of Mannan Tribal settlement of Kozhimala, Kerala. Alternative Solar technologies enable the villagers to leapfrog into the 21st century thus bypassing the over stretched electric grid systems. The provision of the solar/LED home lighting system makes available an 'environmentally and health friendly' lighting source. The system removes the reliance on fossil fuel based products, eliminates an environmental pollutant from the household environment and reduces the financial burden of purchasing kerosene. It is expected that the cumulative savings from kerosene replacement will significantly bolster disposable income. In regions where the Solar/LED lighting systems have been introduced the savings on kerosene have actively gone into education. Lighting can also facilitate the establishment of indoor/evening cottage industries helping people earn a modest living.

The next stage will involve us working with the YOI Foundation to setup a micro loan facility for the villagers and youth groups to help fund solar work shops and help indigenous rural communities access electricity and earn a living by building and selling Solar devices.

Project outline

This new project will involve the purchase and installation of Solar/LED home lighting systems - for the sole purpose of illumination - to the Mannan Tribal village of Kozhimala in the Western Ghat Mountains of Kerala, South India.

The proposed system should consists of two/three high efficiency low energy Light Emitting Diode (LED) bulbs, a Thin Film Solar panel and a battery that is able to absorb the sun's energy and store enough energy even in cloudy weather. The unit should provide a lighting source for approximately 4-5 hours per night.

The proposed Solar systems will be sourced from various suppliers in South India. The aim is to use local made system that can be serviced locally and also use solar energy systems that have been developed locally using energy efficient technology for developing world conditions. The costs vary from about $100-$150 per household simple lighting unit.

Yearoutindia staff will conduct educational training workshops for women and men on the use and maintenance of the Solar/LED home lighting system. Yearoutindia will provide local help for installation and transportation to the project site.

What the volunteers will be doing ?

As a volunteer on this initiative you will be staying on site and will build a close working relationship with the tribal community including the families for whom these Solar lights are installed. Volunteers will be involved at all stages from fundraising to sourcing and eventual installation and implementation for the project at the tribal village.

The Solar Light Project is a new initiative and we need a min of 2-3 volunteers as soon as possible every month to help with fundraising for this project and eventually volunteer on site this summer. There are about 200+ houses in need of solar lights in the area; so different groups of volunteers can take on this work in different stages throughout the year. There are local workers who will also help with all the ground work and installations. Volunteers can help at all levels and volunteers who have no prior knowledge or experience of Solar lights can also help at all levels. Our staff and coordinators will help you manage the project. This is very exciting and challenging placement and volunteers can also come as Work/School/College groups to help at this project site. Volunteers are encouraged to fundraise for this project individually or in groups.

You will also work closely with other volunteers and YOI staff, giving you the chance to gain extensive knowledge of new cultures and perhaps even languages. In addition you will enjoy the unique experience of working in the beautiful area surrounding the beautiful Western Ghat Mountain Ranges. YOI staff will be present on site and will cook meals for volunteers. Special dietary requirements can be accommodated. After work activities will be in the form of treks, camp fires, tribal singing and dancing, BBQ's, games, visits to the nearby tiger reserve and bamboo rafting etc etc.

This project will greatly benefit the tribal community and also has much to offer the volunteers :

	A unique opportunity to work amongst tribal people and to learn about their culture and way of life.
	The satisfaction of brightening the lives of the families involved.
	The joy of working in an area of outstanding natural beauty in the Western Ghat Mountain ranges.
	A chance to build life-long friendships with people from all walks of life.
	A chance to improve your DIY skills!

Village Solar light meeting

Solar lighting for houses

YOI - House built by YOI Volunteers

	WHAT YOU CAN DO!
	Fundraise for this unique project in groups and/or individually
	Volunteers to come and implement the project at the rural Mannan Tribal Village in the Western ghat mountians of South India
	Unique opportunity for college and school groups to participate.

* It's a challenging project that require volunteers to be resourceful, committed, self motivated and will involve demanding work with plenty of excitement and fun. You will be involved in planning, organising and building activities with the help of a team of volunteers, local labourers and members of the community. Please note that the project area is remote and all basic facilities will be provided by Yearoutindia. Amenities like Internet, ATM's, Fax etc are only available at the nearest town which is 30 minutes bus drive away.

Progect Costs:

The project aims to raise about USD $3000 - $4000 to start the first stage of the Solar light project. Volunteers can fundraise and bring the funds with them directly to the project site or donations can be made through the YOI Foundation - an independent charity based in England - run by ex volunteers. This will fully fund the purchase and installation of 30-40 solar light systems for 30-40 homes. The labour for the installation will come from Yearoutindia volunteers and locals. Absolutely all funds raised will pay directly for buying the Solar Lights for the projects and the remaining costs will be covered by volunteer fees.

The volunteers will pay standard program fees for 4 weeks, which covers volunteer related costs: all food, accommodation, project-related transport, staff etc.Volunteers will also assist the YOI staff in managing the funds and paying daily wages and materials needed for the building work. Please contact our volunteer coordinators for more details.