The nearby local communities of Kebele and Mai Kuhil hosted the Eritrean refugee for a visit to the T/Adiyabo Woreda residents who face alternative sources of light and energy for lighting their daily live and for cooking their meals.

In addition to its refugee operation responsibilities, IHS solicited a budget to address the lighting problems of the poorest of the poor household residents who live in the above-named kebeles. IHS has found budget funding from the Embassy of the United States, which is located in Ethiopia. IHS distributed 484 solar lumps to 484 homes where the greatest need was found.

Abrehet Yemanebirhan, who is a 46-year-old resident of Mai Kuhil kebele, was one of the recipients of the solar lamps. Abrehet is the head of the family of five. Four members of the family are students. According the information from this woman, she pays an average of 60 ETB per month for kerosene. In addition to this, it was challenging for the students in her family to study with kerosene lamp.

Abrehet described the challenges her family faced because of the use of kerosene lamps. First, it was difficult for her children to keep a consistent reading schedule, which directly affected their academic performance. Second, there were health hazards when her students inhaled the smoke of the kerosene lamp, as their breathing systems were damaged.

The interviewer (I) asked Abrehet if she has anything else to say. She said “I am much happier, thankful for this support, thankful for the donors and thank for IHS. But I insist the donors/IHS continue to support other poor households who have same problem.”

The day after IHS distributed the solar lamps, Abrehet was able to better manage her monthly costs (expenditures) for kerosene purchases. Also, her children started reading properly and increasing their reading schedules, which improved their academic performances. In addition, the health of the students improved.