Lighting the Way for Learning

Mamie is a 38-year-old teacher at Rakotobe Joseph Primary School, where she has been teaching since 2018. At home, she lives with her five children in a rural community without reliable electricity.
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For years, the family relied on three torches to light their rooms. Each torch required three batteries, with a single battery costing 600 Ariary, making the expense unsustainable. To meet her household’s basic needs, Marie also rented two additional lamps. As a teacher, she needed to prepare lessons every evening, but the dim, flickering light caused eye strain and made studying difficult, especially on dark and rainy nights.
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Her students faced similar challenges. Marie estimated that about 80 percent of them were using kerosene lamps at home, despite the smoke, smell, and health risks. She knew this environment was not conducive to learning, but alternatives were scarce.

In 2022, Marie received her first solar lamp through the Light Library project. The change was immediate. For the first time, she had a bright, clean source of light that allowed her to prepare lessons comfortably. She designated one room in her home as a study space where she could plan, read, and write clearly each evening.

Soon, her children began joining her in this space to complete their homework and review their lessons, turning it into a family learning hub.

The impact extended beyond her household. At school, the majority of students gradually shifted from kerosene lamps to solar lighting. Marie observed a clear difference in their performance: homework was completed more consistently, motivation to learn increased, and students came to class better prepared. She described the change as a visible transformation in their engagement and enthusiasm for learning.
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For Marie’s own family, the results have been deeply meaningful. In the past year, all five of her children successfully passed their official exams—a milestone she attributes to their ability to study effectively at night with reliable solar light.

The introduction of solar lighting has transformed Marie’s role as both a teacher and a mother. It has reduced household expenses, protected her family’s health, improved her ability to prepare quality lessons, and created an environment where her children can thrive academically. Her story illustrates the broader impact of the Light Library program: empowering educators, strengthening families, and creating pathways for children to succeed.