Anand is ten years old and studies in the 5th Standard. Anand hails from a tribal community and is the first generation learner in his family – much like his peers, most of whom are from economically weak backgrounds.
We find Anand sitting in his residential school's compound late one evening, trying to read a book. He is struggling to read in the dying light. Why doesn't he just find a place where there is a light powered by electricity? Because there isn't one in his school.
A school of first generation learners
Anand is enrolled at one of Sringeri's residential schools. Coming from an impoverished background, his future looked bleak – until he was offered a chance to be educated at no cost. He jumped at the chance. Today, he's thriving at school, and is one of the top students in his class. His classmates' and his day consists of attending lessons together, eating together, and playing together. Most of them are first generation learners, and are a beacon of hope for their families. Says Anand, “I want to become a doctor. I want to help people, and save lives.”
Like Anand, many children at the school have big dreams for their futures. Some want to become pilots, while some want to become teachers. There should be nothing standing in the way of their dreams. However, there is an obstacle.
With hardly any light, their futures seem dark
The school Anand studies in is located in an area in Sringeri where there isn't much electricity available. The school has forests surrounding it; the weather is almost always overcast. With such little sunlight and no other source of light, the children face many problems. They aren't allowed to leave the school premises in the evening as it is unsafe. And they cannot study in the evenings, as there is no light. Anand says, “I love reading. And I love my lessons. But I cannot study in the evenings because there is no light. It's hard for me to finish my homework as there are only a few hours between my lessons ending and the evening when we start to lose light.” His woes are echoed by other children at the school.
Nothing should stand in the way of children's education. And Mesha Energy Solutions decided to do something about this. With their campaign, 'Light Up the Future', Mesha provides innovative lighting solutions for schools such as the one Anand studies in. Solar lighting kits are provided to schools who need them urgently, ending their lighting problems. The kit, one of its kind, is made in India, and environmentally friendly. With a new technology employed in their making, these kits can be charged even in areas where there is little sunlight, in a short duration of time. They can provide lighting for hours at a stretch. Each kit, unlike most solar lighting systems, is built to last for years.
How you can help
Mesha has provided around 90 kits in 15 schools so far. Students like Anand can now study and play for hours into the evening, without having to worry about anything. So far, around 4000 students have been benefitted by these lighting kits.
However, there are still around a lakh of students at schools who require these lighting kits. Mesha plans to initiate 'Light Up the Future' across more than 300 schools across India. For this, Mesha and these children need your help.
With your support, Mesha can build more lighting kits for these children. Your contribution would mean that these children get the education they need, and a better, brighter future for them.
