Soeurs de Notre-Dame de Namur Congo/Kinshasa
The photovoltaic system is rendering enormous services to the people in Congo. The work has been completed in the three News sites: Kitenda, Lemfu and Pelende.
This project improves life conditions for the inhabitants in rural places by facilitating the utilization of solar photovoltaic energy in order to satisfy energy needs such as:
---Photovoltaic lighting
---Photovoltaic solar pumps
---Preservation of foods or products, and medical vaccines needing electricity for solar refrigeration
---Equipment requiring electricity for medical care
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Ndidinga is the first site. It was installed in February 2008. |
Sister Gertrude Mwanakasi is installing the solar panel/Pelende
At Pelende, Sisters, professors, Jesuits priests, some of our collaborators and students are benefiting from the of the photovoltaic project. The Sisters have a medical center, high school and primary schools. There are 450 students at the high school and 440 at the primary school.
The students can do their assignments anytime and connect to the internet, thanks to the system.
The health care and delivery at the dispensary are done in better conditions. At the medical center, the medical personnel are able to sterilize the materials that they use and employ
some electric laboratory materials.
One of the most wonderful benefits of the photovoltaic system is the installation of the satellites in the three sites. The communication between the Sisters and among other people was very difficult because of the distance and bad roads. For example, the Sisters depended on the house in Kimwenza in order to receive the CLT newsletter, as well as other congregational and unit documents. The mail takes some weeks or more to get to where the Sisters live.
Kimwenza had to print and send out all letters and documents. That is not the case today.
Lycée Kumeeso has a cybercafé where professors and students do their research now. Also, the Pelende community has a small cybercafé for the people in the area. Sister Angelique Ibangu is now responsible for the cybercafé. She helps the people to use computers and to open electronic addresses.
Mister Louis Casey is installing the system at Kitenda
Kitenda is located about 80 kilometres from Pelende. Both Pelende and Kitenda confront the same problems; the other missions where the Sisters work face also the same difficulties.
The Sisters have a high school and primary school, and a medical center at Kitenda. With the internet connection, they are benefiting from the photovoltaic project. Kitenda has a small cybercafé in the community area.
Sister FIDELINE IFUTU/Kitenda
The end of installation at Lemfu
Lemfu was the latest site to be installed. Sister Angèle Nlambi learned quickly some computer skills in order to help others and to take care of the cybercafé. When we visited and surveyed the system at Lemfu, we observed that the students were very happy and proud about the installation. The students in the high school at Lemfu learn to sew.
They have to iron the clothes they have made in sewing classes. It was very difficult to use wood irons. Now they are using electric irons, as you can see it on these pictures.
Mister Dominique
Sister Lorraine Connell is explanning the important of the photovoltaic system to the congolese Sister at the Province Assembly.
The Sisters are listening carefully to Sister Lorraine
Pelende CommunitySNDs
People are thanking all the donators trought Sister Lorraine who went to visit Lemfu site in February 2011.
