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Restoring Hope and Instilling Confidence |
 The people of Murereshwa say that their community has become more like a family since the arrival of Circle of Light.
Launched in 2005, the Circle of Light (CoL) community of Murereshwa has a spread-out population of about 35,000. Even with 1,196 homes participating in the CoL program, there is still a great need to expand membership, but the changes among the participating population have been anything but small.
"I must confess that it has positively impacted my community in such a way that it shall never remain the same," says Jane Muria Macharia. "Circle of Light has promoted community unity because as members we now feel like one big family."
Macharia describes how people are working together, replanting trees in the deforested area and are starting projects that empower women and children, combat poverty and increase income.
In February, the Murereshwa CoL association members began the Mushroom Project-a new income-generating program that is reducing poverty and improving nutrition. More than 30 people are involved in the project at various phases of planting, maintaining and harvesting, and each is paid for their work. Since its inception earlier this year, the project has locally sold 32 lbs. of fresh mushrooms and 87 lbs. of dried mushrooms. At the end of the year, the profits will be divided among members of the Circle of Light association.
Circle of Light participants have also described feeling more confident in their roles as parents, mothers, teachers, small business owners and so on because the cooking and lighting systems allow them to more fully perform their duties.
"As a wife and mother, I am expected by tradition to prepare food for my husband and children regardless of the problems and challenges I face searching for wood fuel," says Mary Tendere Wachira. "Food has to be ready or I will be considered a failure and turned into a laughing stock in the community. However, with the coming of CoL cooking system, my burden has been truly lifted because I now use gas and my stove burner to prepare meals for my family without any problem."
And, students aren't the only ones benefiting from light to study by in the evenings.
"I am now able to function properly both during the day and even during the night in my profession as a teacher," says Virginia Wamaitha, a primary school teacher. "The CoL lighting system enables me to adequately prepare my class lessons regardless of the time, be it day or night."
"With youth constituting the highest percentage of Murereshwa's population, it's encouraging that we are helping better equip the teachers who will train them," comments Circle of Light Executive Director Jim Karins.
Having light in homes has also provided opportunities for people to take on new responsibilities.
"Because of the lighting system, I have been given a leadership position in my church choir," explains Wachira. "This is because with my lighting system, I am able to write and practice our church worship songs, which I then later teach to my church choir. This has given me confidence and enabled me to be committed and also to serve God."
Of course, the arrival of Circle of Light in Murereshwa has not solved all the problems. There is still great need for quality health services for diseases like HIV/AIDS, typhoid, and asthma, and safe drinking water is scarce and expensive. But with the proclaimed new hope and confidence its residents have found, new solutions are on the way.
"As with all renewed hope and confidence comes new energy and enthusiasm," says Jeff Loving, director of donor development. "It's our prayer that the people of Murereshwa will continue to use the empowerment they've found from Circle of Light to implement new community solutions, like the Mushroom Project."
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