Lira, (UG):- Solar Light Africa Company Limited has for the second time donated solar panels and lighting systems to Nancy Comprehensive School for the Deaf in Lira City Northern Uganda.
The school, which was initially intended for deaf students, has since been integrated to include students without disabilities, with sign language being the primary mode of communication.
While the school had an electricity connection, managing the bills was a challenge as it is a community-based school without government funding.
To address this, Solar Light Africa Company Limited in 2023 donated solar lighting systems worth over 20 million Shillings, to be installed in secondary school classrooms and dormitories.
Additionally, on Monday, July 15, Solar Light Africa gave another set of consignments of solar lighting systems worth over 40 million Shillings.
The Executive Director Solar Africa, Ms Charlene Turner while handing over the solar to the school management said that the purpose of donating the items is to make learning and navigation easier for the students at the school during night hours.
“When I visited the Nancy School for the Deaf, I knew this was the place that we needed to light. So there will be light in this building so that you can do your preps,’’ Turner said.
Turner added ‘’this is 17.8 million shillings and decide the best way to use this money for the school. So we would like to have a report on how this money is spent,’’.
She also owes all the development they are implementing at Nancy Comprehensive School to her friendship with Dr. Jane Aceng Ocero, the Health Minister and Lira City Woman Member of Parliament, who connected her to the school.
School Administration speaks out
While receiving the donated items, the BoG Chairman, Quirinus Otim expressed his happiness, saying the support will significantly improve communication among the deaf students at night.
“Today marks the biggest day in our life in Nancy and Santi Secondary School for the Deaf. Students are now able to communicate effectively unlike those days when Children were not able to communicate among themselves because they were not able to look at each other,” Otim said.
The school head teacher, Mr Bonny George Okello, expressed gratitude for the donation, noting that power outages and high electricity bills had greatly impacted the school’s operations.
“The installation of the solar system that we received today is expected to improve the situation. Besides, the 17.5 million given to us will be used to renovate the dormitories and to buy the beds for the learners,” he said.
Aside from lighting, the head teacher also announced that the government has taken over the secondary section which will ease managing the school if resources are avail.
Meanwhile, Bonny Otucu, the assistant RCC of Lira City who represented Dr. Jane Aceng Ocero, Lira City Woman Member of Parliament urged all stakeholders to collaborate in revamping the school for an enhanced learning experience.
“Nancy and Shanti School for the Deaf is a very unique school. The category of students here is very special and they are very dear to us. So let us come in to help them materially,” Otucu said.
Nancy Comprehensive School for the Deaf, established nearly 20 years ago with support from the community and a lady named Nancy, is still awaiting full government support. The school has a total admission of 579 students, with 70% being deaf, 10% having other disabilities, and 20% without disabilities.
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