Solar lights improving learning, living standards

SEVEN-year-old Norman Woito from Buna village in Northern can now do his homework at night, thanks to a solar light donated through the Australian-supported Kokoda Initiative and Kokoda Track Foundation
Parents Wilfred and Liferty Woito said it used to be difficult to encourage Norman, an elementary student, to do his school work at night.
“He mostly complained about doing his homework because he could not see clearly with torch lights,” Liferty Woito said.
The parents said since solar lights were installed their son now looked forward to doing his homework.
“Because we used battery-operated torches, we would only let him spend less than an hour on his school work to save power,” she said. “But now Norman is able to spend more time reading books under the lights, so we don’t stop him.”
Woito said the solar-powered lights had also cut costs for the family.
She said they no longer had to buy as many batteries from the money they earned through selling handicrafts and food at the local market.
“After receiving these solar lights, I have a little extra money. I used to worry about saving K12 to buy six batteries every week.
“Now we can do plenty of things at night using the lights and not worry about the cost or limiting Norman’s study time.” According to a statement from the Australian High Commission, the family were given three solar lights in August through the Australian-supported Kokoda Initiative and Kokoda Track Foundation, with a total of 218 solar kits installed in the village.
Located on the northern beaches of Northern province, Buna is the last of 37 communities in the Kokoda Track region to receive more than 850 solar lighting kits for homes, schools and aid posts over the last 12 months.