There is one thing a mother who has no electricity in her house but has children in the age of pulling, reaching and experimenting, fears when the sun sets.
‘Will my child topple the kerosene lamp and set fire to everything?’ And mothers have developed their own solutions.
Shani (25) has switched to using an old kettle as her lamp because it has a heavy bottom and her five year-old would not easily topple it. Before going to sleep, she hangs it on an iron rod from the roof, away from her child.
Vijitha (30) buries it in the sandy floor of her house so that none of her children would accidentally knock it while she is asleep.
Some mothers make sure their children finish their school work before dark so that they don’t have to be near a kerosene lamp.
When partnership with Solar Empowerment Initiative (SEI) and Rise and Shine Inc. (R&S), brought over 1,800 lanterns and 20 mini solar panels the transformation it gave the families more than light. For children it brought more play time before dark and for the parents a peace of mind.
“The light from this lamp is not hot like the kerosene lamp and I like the white light,” says Hansi, 10.
“Now I can study even in the night,” says Kanika, 14.
“I can now study together with many friends,” says Puviarchana, 9.
“This lantern gives more light than others so I can do housework very easily in the night,” says Kuresiya, 41.
“This saves the money spent on kerosene for me. There are times I have to give up buying a vegetable because I have to by kerosene for the night,” says Ranjini, 36.
Watch the difference below.
