Solar Suitcase Install | lejabulelainc

Solar Suitcase Installation (2012)

In 2012, Leja Bulela undertook the first of its many sustainable energy projects. Citing the dangers of child birth at night in rural communities, Leja Bulela partnered with We Care Solar to install two solar suitcases at the clinic. The LED lights, 4 in total, were instrumental in helping the staff at the KMHC serve the population at all hours. Click here to see video!

Arrival in Mbujimayi The Leja Bulela delegation arrives in Mbujimayi on a hot summer day and are warmly greeted by the Leja Bulela Liaison, Tatu Pierre Bafue as well as friends and family of Leja Bulela members in the US.	Arrival in Tshibombo Kalonji Kadima (San Diego, CA) and Tshiunza Kalubi (Cincinnati, OH) express their gratitude and excitement to the clinic staff.	Passing of the materials The Leja Bulela delegation unloads a truck load of materials and instruments for the Kalala Muzeu Health Center.
Solar Suitcase The first of two solar suitcases is unloaded and passed on down the line by clinic staff	Touring the property The delegation tours the grounds of the recently completed KMHC	Reading Directions Kalonji Kadima opens the directions as he preps to install the first of two Solar Suitcases
Not a regular suitcase! These suitcases contain two powerful LED lights and cellphone chargers. Clinic staff will be in a better position to care for patients at all hours	Solar Suitcase Intsallation Danny Tshibuabua makes adjustments to the suitcase in preparation of its mounting to the wall	How do we get on the roof? The group searches for the best way to get up onto the roof
On a hot tin roof After some thought, the best way to get on the roof is to climb onto the water tank and then use a ladder to crawl up onto the roof. Sounds much worse than it actually is!	Local Kids! During the installation, several local children came by and provided some good entertainments! Some of the young men in this group claimed to be expert marksmen with their slingshots--we didn't want to find out!	Placing the panels The group attaches the miniature solar panels to the roof of the clinic. This is the most important step as the panels need constant direct sunlight to charge the suitcase battery
Suitcase Mounted A view of the suitcase mounted to the wall of the clinic	Almost ready... The staff goes over the functions of the suitcase	Almost ready The staff goes over the functions of the suitcase
There is light! After an exciting countdown, the LED lights are switched on indicating that the system is working and that the battery is charging!	There is light! After an exciting countdown, the LED lights are switched on indicating that the system is working and that the battery is charging!	The crowd gathers After some loud cheering, a crowd gathers outside the clinic to see the beams of light
Group Picture At the end of a long day, the group takes a picture knowing that the KMHC is in a better place than it was when they arrived in the morning!

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Solar Suitcase Installation (2012)

Arrival in Mbujimayi

The Leja Bulela delegation arrives in Mbujimayi on a hot summer day and are warmly greeted by the Leja Bulela Liaison, Tatu Pierre Bafue as well as friends and family of Leja Bulela members in the US.

Arrival in Tshibombo

Kalonji Kadima (San Diego, CA) and Tshiunza Kalubi (Cincinnati, OH) express their gratitude and excitement to the clinic staff.

Passing of the materials

The Leja Bulela delegation unloads a truck load of materials and instruments for the Kalala Muzeu Health Center.

Solar Suitcase

The first of two solar suitcases is unloaded and passed on down the line by clinic staff

Touring the property

The delegation tours the grounds of the recently completed KMHC

Reading Directions

Kalonji Kadima opens the directions as he preps to install the first of two Solar Suitcases

Not a regular suitcase!

These suitcases contain two powerful LED lights and cellphone chargers. Clinic staff will be in a better position to care for patients at all hours

Solar Suitcase Intsallation

Danny Tshibuabua makes adjustments to the suitcase in preparation of its mounting to the wall

How do we get on the roof?

The group searches for the best way to get up onto the roof

On a hot tin roof

After some thought, the best way to get on the roof is to climb onto the water tank and then use a ladder to crawl up onto the roof. Sounds much worse than it actually is!

Local Kids!

During the installation, several local children came by and provided some good entertainments! Some of the young men in this group claimed to be expert marksmen with their slingshots--we didn't want to find out!

Placing the panels

The group attaches the miniature solar panels to the roof of the clinic. This is the most important step as the panels need constant direct sunlight to charge the suitcase battery

Suitcase Mounted

A view of the suitcase mounted to the wall of the clinic

Almost ready...

The staff goes over the functions of the suitcase

Almost ready

The staff goes over the functions of the suitcase

There is light!

After an exciting countdown, the LED lights are switched on indicating that the system is working and that the battery is charging!

There is light!

After an exciting countdown, the LED lights are switched on indicating that the system is working and that the battery is charging!

The crowd gathers

After some loud cheering, a crowd gathers outside the clinic to see the beams of light

Group Picture

At the end of a long day, the group takes a picture knowing that the KMHC is in a better place than it was when they arrived in the morning!