Rural Street Lighting Initiative(RSLI)
The (RSLI) is a strategic large-scale Programme with a number of projects to source and install solar powered street lights in identified communities in villages. The programme aims to deal and respond to a number of social ills that affect communities in rural areas:
- No electricity and adequate lighting which poses risks of people being attacked in their homes especially women and children.
- Communities are quite mobile and often walk long distances between villages for various purposes such as community meetings, community based stokvels/gatherings, family visits to nearby villages, collection of social government grants etc.
- Due to inadequate public transport, a lack of resources to afford public transport and or a combination of the aforementioned factors, people often walk in the dark to either reach their destinations and or return home.
- Livestock theft is highly prevalent in rural villages and affects the ability of families to sustain themselves. We believe that this theft thrives in dark unlit conditions.
Benefits for the RSLI
We believe that the Rural Street Lighting Initiative (RSLI) will have a positive impact on communities where it is implemented as follows:- Safer communities where people will be able to move unhindered within their immediate village at night especially vulnerable members of society like the women and the elderly.
- Discourage crimes and attacks on community members as a result of improved visibility.
- Reduced theft on material possessions and livestock assets thus preserving people’s livelihoods.
- Enable community police forum to effectively patrol the locality with better visibility.
- A positive environment with reduced fear as a result of a layer of light permeating the village/s.