It can be difficult to stay focused in class or study when the power to your school and dorm keeps shutting off. For the students at St. Maria Goretti Nursery and Primary School in Lira, Uganda, this was a very real problem.
But things are looking a little bit brighter at the St. Maria Goretti School, ever since solar panels were installed.
With support from the Comboni Missionaries Small Mission Project program, the school was able to purchase four solar panels, batteries, wires, and all the supplies need to for installation.
The Small Mission Project program offered by the North American Province is made possible by our many generous friends and benefactors.
Work began in March 2023 and was recently completed. There were some minor delays as bad roads during the rainy season made the delivery of materials difficult. The staff and parents persevered and are excited to provide a more welcoming environment for their students.
St. Maria Goretti Nursery and Primary school was started in 2000 as a nursery school offering early childhood education. It was later upgraded to a primary school in 2016. The school now has a total of 359 children in both nursery and primary. Some students also board at the school.
The solar panel system provides bright, consistent lighting for the school. This is especially helpful for students living on campus. It also means the school can accept more students who are interested in boarding.
Sr. Beatrice Awor, along with many parents, helped initiate this project.
“I thank the project committee of Lira diocese for the support rendered during the execution of the project, right from proposal generation up to the completion of the installation of solar panel,” wrote Sr. Beatrice. “I would like, in a special way, to appreciate the Bishop of Lira Diocese for endorsing the project which enabled us to secure funding for the installation of solar. My sincere gratitude also goes to Comboni Missionar[ies] for accepting to fund this project of installation of solar panel at St. Maria Goretti Nursery Day and Boarding Primary school.”
Looking forward, the school would like to install a fence around the property for better security.
