About Mbondaa Foundation

Mbondaa Foundation is a California-based U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit, headquartered in Tracy, California, dedicated to restoring rural primary education in Sierra Leone. Working through a village-led model, we partner with families and local leaders to strengthen school infrastructure, advance girls’ empowerment and STEM learning, and improve food security. This request focuses on the two community primary schools in Konabu Village:

● Roman Catholic Primary School, Konabu Village (107 pupils)

● Namya Islamic Primary School, Konabu Village (229 pupils)

Our in-country programme is led by Programme Director Mohamed S. Kallon, with our U.S. team coordinating funding, documentation, and strategic planning. Recent initiatives include a community school-feeding programme, a mobile STEM education initiative, and the fabrication of classroom furniture through community-labor partnerships.

Statement of Need

The two schools in Konabu Village have no grid connection and no on-site power. The consequences compound daily. Learning ends when the sun sets, cutting short the school day and eliminating evening study. Classrooms have no lighting or fans in a hot climate, and there is no way to run computers or refrigerate essentials. Sierra Leone has one of the lowest rural electrification rates in the world, and public grid extension to these remote villages is not anticipated in the foreseeable future. Solar energy is therefore not a convenience but the only viable path to power — and to the learning opportunities that power makes possible.

Two rural primary schools in Konabu Village, Kenema District, Sierra Leone operate with no electricity of any kind. Learning ends at dusk, classrooms have no lighting or fans, and there is no way to run computers. No grid extension is expected — solar is the only viable path to power.

The Project

Install a complete solar system at each of the two schools — powering computers, LED lighting, ceiling fans, a small refrigerator, and a staff kettle. Each ~4 kWp array with ~10 kWh battery carries roughly 11 kWh of daily demand and runs essential loads into the evening. Both schools are in one village, so equipment ships together and installs in a single trip.

Who it reaches

A village of over 900 inhabitants, 336 pupils in total: 107 at Roman Catholic Primary School and 229 at Namya Islamic Primary School, Konabu Village.

Budget at a glance

What the grant funds	USD	SLE
Solar arrays, batteries & inverters (2 schools)	$14,400	331,200
Wiring & mounting (2 schools)	$3,400	78,200
Installation & caretaker training (2 schools)	$2,200	50,600
Freight, customs & contingency	$3,400	78,200
TOTAL REQUEST	$23,400	538,200

Powering Classrooms, Brightening Futures-Providing Solar Power to Rural Schools

Sparking the Next Generation of Innovators — One Village at a Time