POWER TO LEARN FIJI
Lindfield Rotary help to supply solar panels to isolated schools without adequate power in Fiji
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We received this really heart warming card thanking us from the children we helped in Bouma.
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The solar panels were just installed on this school when Cyclone Winston hit Fiji. The school was devastated but the panels remained intact! |
Category-5 TropicalCyclone Winston, the strongest storm ever recorded to make landfall on the Southern Hemisphere, hit Fiji on Saturday, Feb. 20, killing at least 42 people and leaving thousands homeless. Fiji is a popular tourist destination, has a population of about 900,000 people and includes more than 320 islands, volcanic outcrops
and coral atolls. Many are inhabited, but inaccessible and very vulnerable to high tides.
Has already deployed aid for a medical centre on the island of Makogai and has called in pre-positioned stock from Auckland and Melbourne. The team is coordinating with the Fijian Government, who are leading the emergency response. Shelterbox is also working with Rotary and Sea Mercy, a charity that provides volunteer fleets of vessels and yachts that are already stationed in the South Pacific. Sea Mercy is ready to facilitate needs assessments and deliver much-needed emergency aid to the affected islands.
The specific aid that ShelterBox supplies is likely to be some of the most needed items in this type of emergency. Winds of the magnitude (300 km/hour) experienced in Cyclone Winston will tear apart homes, strip edible coconuts and fruit from trees, uproot any crops, and contaminate drinking supply with ocean water. What the wind did not destroy, the storm surge of waves being pushed inland will carry everything back out to sea once the storm has passed. This leaves those living on the remote islands without shelter, food, and safe drinking water and even the tools and materials to rebuild their shattered lives. The ShelterBox Response team has already requested luminAID solar lights and additional water purification units because the ground water is contaminated and water collection devices have been destroyed.
and coral atolls. Many are inhabited, but inaccessible and very vulnerable to high tides.
Has already deployed aid for a medical centre on the island of Makogai and has called in pre-positioned stock from Auckland and Melbourne. The team is coordinating with the Fijian Government, who are leading the emergency response. Shelterbox is also working with Rotary and Sea Mercy, a charity that provides volunteer fleets of vessels and yachts that are already stationed in the South Pacific. Sea Mercy is ready to facilitate needs assessments and deliver much-needed emergency aid to the affected islands.
The specific aid that ShelterBox supplies is likely to be some of the most needed items in this type of emergency. Winds of the magnitude (300 km/hour) experienced in Cyclone Winston will tear apart homes, strip edible coconuts and fruit from trees, uproot any crops, and contaminate drinking supply with ocean water. What the wind did not destroy, the storm surge of waves being pushed inland will carry everything back out to sea once the storm has passed. This leaves those living on the remote islands without shelter, food, and safe drinking water and even the tools and materials to rebuild their shattered lives. The ShelterBox Response team has already requested luminAID solar lights and additional water purification units because the ground water is contaminated and water collection devices have been destroyed.
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Devastation left by Cyclone Winston |
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The shelter Box Response Team |
Two weeks ago, the Rotary and Its Time Foundation ‘Power to Learn’ solar project at the remote Bouma and Salia Levu schools was just complete when cyclone Winston hit. The strongest cyclone in recorded history ever to hit Fiji passed very near these villages.
Initial reports are that the Bouma School and solar system has faired relatively well, damage is not extensive. Salia Levu has not faired as well. The main school building has largely survived and the solar system has more damage but is believed to be fixable.
Our Rotary colleague on Taveuni Island, Geoff Amos said “that in one area on Taveuni out of 400 homes, 10 are now standing. All the preschools, dormitories and primary schools built by Rotary Taveuni and supporting Clubs (not Lindfield) are all still standing, a tribute to volunteers”.
Our partner in this project, Rob Edwards is owed a big thank you. He was the main driving force behind the project, he managed the installation and when The Rotary Foundation declined to commit funds to this project, his Foundation met the shortfall. Rob’s initial report on the projects status is, “the two projects were in the thick of it, but I am delighted to report that the systems held up quite well. Albeit neither are functioning at the moment. Bouma has damage to the system wiring and a report of “water damage”. Salia Levu lost one panel. Am hopeful that the connector boxes on the panels and inverters are fine and damage is limited. The limited damage is largely due to our strong commitment to quality equipment”.
Rob’s initial visual report of the project installation, prior to cyclone Winston - see: Bouma: http://iitime.org/project-bouma/
Salia Levu: http://iitime.org/project-salia-levu/
Michael Shepherd International Director
Initial reports are that the Bouma School and solar system has faired relatively well, damage is not extensive. Salia Levu has not faired as well. The main school building has largely survived and the solar system has more damage but is believed to be fixable.
Our Rotary colleague on Taveuni Island, Geoff Amos said “that in one area on Taveuni out of 400 homes, 10 are now standing. All the preschools, dormitories and primary schools built by Rotary Taveuni and supporting Clubs (not Lindfield) are all still standing, a tribute to volunteers”.
Our partner in this project, Rob Edwards is owed a big thank you. He was the main driving force behind the project, he managed the installation and when The Rotary Foundation declined to commit funds to this project, his Foundation met the shortfall. Rob’s initial report on the projects status is, “the two projects were in the thick of it, but I am delighted to report that the systems held up quite well. Albeit neither are functioning at the moment. Bouma has damage to the system wiring and a report of “water damage”. Salia Levu lost one panel. Am hopeful that the connector boxes on the panels and inverters are fine and damage is limited. The limited damage is largely due to our strong commitment to quality equipment”.
Rob’s initial visual report of the project installation, prior to cyclone Winston - see: Bouma: http://iitime.org/project-bouma/
Salia Levu: http://iitime.org/project-salia-levu/
Michael Shepherd International Director
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A report from Rotarian Peter Malden, RC Boronia Vic on the aftermath of Cyclone Winston and a small map to indicate the relative location of Bouma Village on Taveuni Island, the site of our ‘Power to Learn’ solar system is available from Mike Sheppard - mrwoky@optushome.com.au. They look like they got the full blast.
This item lists the details of an Australian Rotary RAWCS aid project to which tax deductable donations can be made. It is a good idea to check out the photos of these projects
Bouma School – our ‘Power To Learn’ project that was completed just prior to February’s cyclone. Bouma works: https://www.flickr.com/photos/itstimefoundation/albums/72157663265043094 Lavena School – we contributed to the repair of this school’s solar system, as required to restore is fully following its cyclone damage. This work is currently underway. Lavena cyclone images (we will send images after the works are complete): https://www.flickr.com/photos/itstimefoundation/albums/72157670774614115 The Next Project for ‘Its Time Foundation, we are not involved in this one. As Vuna Primary is rebuilt we hope to have a shiny new solar system to create a new era of education at the school: https://www.flickr.com/photos/itstimefoundation/albums/72157670682526215 |
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