The problem
Rusape General hospital, located in North Eastern Zimbabwe, is the largest hospital in the district. Power outages are common, with the hospital often relying on inefficient diesel generators, this is costly both financially and environmentally. If Rusape General were to run the diesel generators to the capacity needed during times of power outages, it would spend over 70% of its budget on diesel. This huge strain has led to a lack of available funds for other vital medical supplies, and seriously contributes to a strained healthcare services.
The solution
The community in general has a low electrification rate, a large portion of the population does not have access to a reliable source of energy. Most of the community relies on generators, kerosene, firewood or candles as sources of power.
Our technical solution: A 3kW AC-DC system with a lead-acid battery will be used to power the maternity ward in Rusape General Hospital
We’ve spoken to organisations in the community and the hospital, and together we’ve come up with an approach to build a more reliable system. This will help the hospital become more sustainable and generate immediate benefits from it.
This pilot project has the involvement of the Zimbabwean Ministry of Health, if the benefits are clear, the project has potential to be expanded across the country to other healthcare facilities. This could open the doors to further projects, where communities themselves will own the energy systems which power their public institutions, this could be the beginning of a revolution for access to clean and reliable community-owned energy!
The system
During February 2019 we will be sending 2 engineering students from Sweden, supervised by an Engineers Without Borders member to research the export energy potential of the entire hospital. Not only will they conduct a feasibility test on the hospital, they will train our selected trainees, as well as creating a future blueprint for energy systems required at hospitals across Zimbabwe. We always found our decisions and future strategy with research, backing and experience, by continuously researching alongside training, and conducting projects, it becomes more of a continuous learning cycle - we are unafraid to adapt, change approaches, try out new things, and let go of old.
Training program
Providing a solar PV system is not enough. This project strives to create access to reliable and clean energy and empower health sectors to continue the process.
With a training programme created in conjunctions with Engineers Without Borders Sweden, we’ll train 4 active community members to become solar-energy entrepreneurs. The program begins before the installation and consists of 6 modules surrounding renewable energy systems.
The aim of this training is to create ownership in the community over the future processes, especially after the maternity ward solar system is installed, so that they can carry on where we left off!
Once the system is complete we hope to see that the maternity ward in Rusape has no more blackouts and has a larger budget to spend on medicines and hospital equipment, hopefully resulting in the growth of the hospital.
Once those results are clear we hope that with the training programme set in place, our 4 local solar energy specialists which will then be trained, and the collaboration between Sol-Powered and FACE we can push the expansion of the solar system to the rest of the hospital and expect the growth and investment in renewable energy from there.
The result
Our Trainees
Geshem Tawanda Mushaya
I am a twenty four year old young man from the strikingly beautiful country of Zimbabwe. I reflect a varied personality including ambition and the qualities of generosity and thoughtfulness. I am also a well determined and vigorous individual, yet pleasantly calm. I encourage fighting for what you desire and believe in, and doing it through God because nothing great comes easy and with God nothing is impossible.
I am a graduate working at Family Action for Community Empowerment in Zimbabwe as a volunteer, motivated by my love for learning and succeeding as I strive to become an outstanding successful young man in today’s society. With the definitive goal of being a social worker I have graduated and currently hold a lower second class degree in sociology from the University of Zimbabwe.
Rita Mary Makoni
I was born in 1996 at Rusape General Hospital in Zimbabwe. I did my advanced education (A-Level) at First Class Academy in Mutare. I have attended several trainings which include Feminism training, Advocacy skills on gender mainstreaming and women’s rights training, Advocacy skills on climate change and sustainable resilience at Ziweya sponsored by Action Aid and H.I.V and AIDS training in Masvingo sponsored by National Aids Council (N.A.C). I am currently receiving my Bachelor of Science Honors Degree in Gender and Social Anthropology and also sign language training at Great Zimbabwe University in Masvingo Zimbawe.
I have worked with Care At The Core Of Humanity (C.A.T.C.H) as a sign language translator at Headlands Primary School. At F.A.C.E Zimbabwe I am occupying the position of Assistant Project Officer and am currently working on Action Aid Funded project called Child sponsorship and Women’s Rights. My key performance areas include assisting in educating and raising awareness campaigns in different communities in Makoni District Rusape on Child rights initiatives, documenting stories of change for both internal and external stakeholders, workshop facilitator and resource mobilization through proposal writing and sponsorship management. I am carrying out a research on child labour. The paper is titled Child labour in the context of family firm and it is an upcoming paper soon to be published. My research interests include gender budgeting, Globalization nexus Africanisation, gender dynamics in education, Women in development and how much women benefit from renewable energy sources such as solar systerms.
Shuwisai Mashizha
I am a volunteer graduate intern at FACE Zim. I joined the organisation in 2018 and hold the office of an assistant project officer. I am a skilled social worker with a vast experience of working with different communities. By profession I am a qualified high school teacher with more than 16 years of teaching experience. I have worked with the school community devoting most of my time working with the girl child in empowering them. I have also worked as a teacher in the South African Government for 8 years
Due to passion of working with the girl child at school I have found myself working with the organisation of FACE Zim as an assistant project officer. I have been a coordinator for the Girl Child Network in Zimbabwe working under schools for 5 years. I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Counselling and an Honours Degree in HIV/AIDS Behavioural Studies.
As of current I am mainly involved in working with the community in doing developmental work through projects initiation. I also do implementation, monitoring and evaluations of other projects like farming of the cabbages at Chiduku Ngowe irrigation scheme in Makoni District. This is a project being funded by the US Embassy.
Sikumbuzo R.P Mangezi
I am a volunteer graduate intern at FACE Zim, where I have devoted most of my time and skills to community development work for the last three years. I have extensive experience in unusual and innovative Development Work Programming Initiatives. Recent duties and activities include coordinating different development projects from four Districts as well as implementing, monitoring and evaluating two different projects in one District.
I am an Aspiring Motivational Coach. I have experienced life in both rural and urban setups therefore I can adapt to any environment. He enjoy reading and observing nature.
I grew up with my maternal and paternal grandmothers and aunties. From such a childhood I am very cultured and disciplined. I am an artist who likes drawing and designing. I also love being an ambassador for what move lives forward to a better stage. I learn quickly and master technology very well. I walks by my mantra
“He who accepts who he is will have peace of mind. Peace of mind therefore bears happiness.”
Rusape General hospital, located in North Eastern Zimbabwe, is the largest hospital in the district. Power outages are common, with the hospital often relying on inefficient diesel generators, this is costly both financially and environmentally. If Rusape General were to run the diesel generators to the capacity needed during times of power outages, it would spend over 70% of its budget on diesel. This huge strain has led to a lack of available funds for other vital medical supplies, and seriously contributes to a strained healthcare services.
The community in general has a low electrification rate, a large portion of the population does not have access to a reliable source of energy. Most of the community relies on generators, kerosene, firewood or candles as sources of power.
“Without those who drive us forward... we are nothing”