Siutiti Halatoa (centre) with her two helpers, left Dorothy Lave (left), and Sela Tatanekai (right)

After years of living with candle-light, two families in the Sopu area of Nuku‘alofa, were overjoyed to receive the first electric lights in their homes, after a Tongan  grandmother Siutiti Halatoa (51) who trained in solar engineering in India last year, installed the first solar panels under a community led project, this morning May 8.

Siutiti a trained solar engineer from 'Isilei took charge of the installation without her counterpart Siale Leohau (47) who was not able to attend, due to a family funeral.

The solar mothers returned to Tonga in September last year, after successfully completing a six months training course in solar installation at Barefoot College in India.

Siutiti demonstrated her new skills and in an expert manner installed the first solar panel at Tevita 'Unga's small hut. Tevita is a 53-year-old stay at home grandfather who lives with his wife, daughter and grandchildren.

She then installed the second panel at a neighbour's small hut belonging to Uilou Malie, a 30-year-old fisherman who lives with his wife, a young daughter and a four months old baby.

Siutiti said that solar panel is left outside to gather energy from the sun and charges the battery, which can power three light bulbs and one mobile phone charge. If the solar panel is left out on a sunny day like today it can charge the battery full and power the lightbulbs on a rainy day, she said.

When the lights were turned on, the smiles on the faces of both families were just pure joy to have their homes light up for the first time.

"I am happy that my new skills are making a difference in someone else's life, and I feel very fulfilled that I am helping to alleviate the hardship and difficulty of families living without electricity in my area," said Siutiti.

Siutiti was helped by two assistants, including the chairwoman of her women's group, Dorothy Lave, and secretary, Sela Tatanekai.

Solar technology

Tevita said that the new solar technology had given his poor family not only light but joy after what have been two years of living with candles, after migrating from 'Eua two years ago.

"Today is just overwhelming and I am very happy that this project has lightened my little home," he said.

Uilou said they had been living with candles and small battery lights for two years since they moved to the area.

"It is hard with a young child and a baby at home, using candles and buying batteries for our small light, given the limited income we have. This solar light will help make our life easier because I can't afford electricity as it too expensive," he said.

Community

Sione Tupouniua, the project's Tongan counterpart and community facilitator said under the Kolomotu'a Women's Solar Project launched last month for this work, they can install up to 80 under-privileged homes without electricity in Sopu, Hala 'o Vave and 'Isileli areas.

He said they had received pleas from other areas in Tongatapu that needs their help and they would look at it later. But for now we are focusing in the Kolomotu'a areas, he said.

"We are very proud at how rewarding this small community project has taken effect because it is making a difference in easing the lives of families who are living without electricity under the tough circumstances they are in," he said.

A container full of solar equipment was given to the project by an anonymous philanthropist.