Students at Bethlehem Star Pre & Primary School are studying
longer, and the school has climbed from 5th to 3rd place in its district
ranking. Behind both changes is a solar power system installed in
partnership with Sopowerful of the Netherlands.
The system cost TZS 27,750,000 and does considerably more than
provide lighting. It powers the pump that draws water from the school's
borehole, and supports laundry, printing and gardening across the site.
For a school that previously had no assured electricity supply, that is
the difference between activities being possible and being aspirational.
Why electricity changes a school day
Study hours at many Tanzanian schools end when the daylight does.
Reliable lighting extends the time pupils can spend on schoolwork,
particularly for boarding students and those preparing for national
examinations. The school's improved district ranking followed the
installation.
The system has also reduced the school's electricity costs, freeing
resources for teaching and learning.
A partnership, not a donation
Sopowerful brought the technical expertise and funding. TUFOI brought
the relationship with the school and the community, and the on-the-ground
coordination. Neither part would have worked alone.
Full details of the project and its costs are published in our
2025 annual report.
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