Solar for Selmah Ballah Public School, Liberia

In partnership with Emmanuel Smith Kuleh, director of the Charitable Fund for Community Development in Liberia, The Solar Foundation worked to fund a solar plus storage solution for the Selmah Ballah Public School in Bopolu City, Gbarplu County. This is our first project in rural Liberia and getting solar infrastructure there proved a challenging and lengthy process. We are happy tor report that the solar solution was successfully installed in January 2026.

The Selmah Ballah Public School is a community education initiative with three buildings serving 250 vulnerable children in the rural and underserved Sappimah Community. The school and community have no access to electricity, and many households utilize kerosene lamps for lighting at night. This method is not only inefficient and expensive but also poses health and safety risks due to the fumes and fire hazards associated with kerosene use.

The vision for the solar solution is to empower the school so that more families feel secure in sending their children, especially girls, to study there. Reliable electricity also will support a computer lab for digital skills training, a way for teachers and the community to charge their phones and other devices, and the ability to offer adult literacy classes in the evenings. According to Emmanuel Smith Kuleh, many of the parents have asked for adult classes so that they can better support their children.

In addition, the 50 solar lanterns will be used for study hubs in the village where children can gather safely at night to read and study. The lights will be charged during the day so they are ready for the next study session.