Greenpeace Africa have provided Philile Diepsloot with solar panels to reduce the electricity costs of the pre-school and a bio-digester to benefit from food waste.

The project was completed in early June, and community volunteers and staff have been trained in how to use and look after the solar panels and bio-digester. Thank you to the Flight Centre Foundation for sponsoring a plastic bucket for each of our children to use to collect food waste to “feed” the bio-digester.

The next part of the project is to provide 8 solar streetlights around the perimeter of the school. By providing light after dark, the solar streetlights would create a safe haven, and be part of a journey towards safer streets, sustainable development and a clean environment. The 8 solar streetlights will be installed on the perimeter of Philile Diepsloot providing lighting for the pre-school and the surrounding community houses.

The installation is part of a broader plan to engage the community and raise awareness around clean energy. The idea is also to create a feeling of ownership of the solar streetlights, along with giving community members the necessary and valuable skills to be able to take care of them.