Energia Educa: Enhancing Educational Access through Solar Energy in Rural Mozambique
- Fundação RESET
- Mar 14
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 15
Access to electricity remains a significant barrier to education in rural Mozambique, where children often split their time between school and household or agricultural responsibilities. The Energia Educa project, led by Sociedade Algodoeira do Niassa (SAN-JFS) with support from Cotton Made in Africa (CmiA), aims to bridge this gap by providing solar-powered lighting solutions to students. The project focuses on installing solar stations and distributing rechargeable lamps in 10 schools across Niassa province, ensuring that students can study after dark without disrupting their daily chores.
Key Findings
1. Implementation and Impact
The project successfully installed solar stations in all 10 schools, providing 3,144 students with solar lamps and power banks. The initiative ensures that students can complete homework at night, contributing to improved educational outcomes. By reaching an estimated 15,720 indirect beneficiaries (including families and communities), Energia Educa has had a broader impact beyond the classroom.
2. Challenges and Lessons Learned
Despite its success, the project faced logistical and security challenges. Poor road conditions delayed material transport, while theft and security concerns at some schools required additional safeguards. Lessons learned include the importance of conducting pre-implementation assessments for road accessibility, incorporating security measures in project design, and evaluating transport risks to prevent damage to solar equipment.
3. Community Engagement and Sustainability
To ensure long-term sustainability, the project encourages schools to cultivate cotton fields, with proceeds used for maintenance and school improvements. This community-driven approach fosters local ownership, making the project more resilient and impactful. Additionally, community-led initiatives have resulted in the installation of electricity in some teacher housing, further strengthening the educational infrastructure.
The Energia Educa project demonstrates how renewable energy solutions can address educational challenges in underserved communities. By enabling students to study after dark, the initiative enhances learning opportunities, improves school performance, and engages communities in sustainable development. Expanding similar projects could further bridge the education-access gap in Mozambique.
The Bibliography source:
RESET Foundation is committed with the The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Energia Educa project is linked to several SDGs:
The SDG'sG's, also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity.
