Electricity: The Silent Pillars of Society

Electricity: The Silent Pillars of Society

            A quiet hum in your kitchen; the flickering of the lamps; and of course that paper bill at the end of the month. For many of us, this is when we think of our electricity – when we hear it, must pay for it, or when it is out. However, the daily lives of the people of Sierra Leone are affected deeply by the lack of electricity.

            What do you think of when I say the word electricity? Many of us immediately are given an impression of luxury – as though electricity fuels our modern conveniences like laptops, microwave ovens and televisions. While of course it does do this for us, the electricity we have available makes many more essential functions possible – things we usually take for granted.

            In fact, we even usually take our modern conveniences for granted, ones that often cannot function without electricity. Our refrigerators make it possible for us to keep food fresh – and with the average income in Sierra Leone amounting to less than $200 (and an average household size of ten persons), wasting money on spoiled food is hardly an option. Electricity also allows us to use telephones and mass-communications systems.

            Additionally, the value of electricity cannot be underestimated with respect to hospitals and disease treatment/prevention. X-ray machines, heart monitors, MRI machines, fridges, blood banks, telephones, computers, alarms – the list of electricity-dependent equipment in a hospital is endless. Furthermore, disease prevention efforts become more efficient when able to utilize the tools of mass communication and speedy transport.

            What about electricity on a national level? Why is national availability of electricity important to the development and competitive suitability of a country? Well, everyone knows trains (central both for development and infrastructure) are run on petrol or coal. But increasingly, efficient, responsible and speedy trains are using electricity for power. Without efficient trade systems, any country could hardly be expected to compete on the world stage.

            Speaking of trade, where does manufacturing come in for the people of Sierra Leone? The answer is that it mainly doesn’t. Sierra Leone remains a largely agrarian economy, but to push it into an industrial, competitive one, electricity is an absolute must. The production of radio, cinema, books, newspapers – all the elements of a country’s culture – can be modernized with the use of electricity.

            The importance of electricity for any country – especially one in the developing world – cannot be underestimated. Thanks to the great folks at Khadarlis, several villages in Sierra Leone now have access or are in the process of gaining access to electricity. They are even able to produce their own energy in a locally appropriate, sustainable fashion – to avoid dependence on both fossil fuels, and unreliable electricity from big cities like Freetown. So the next time someone asks “What’s the big deal?” when you mention electricity in the developing world, think of Khadarlis – and the wonderful work being done there on behalf of Sierra Leone.

Marisa ( Volunteer @Khadarlis)

  Marisa Natale

Khadarlis for Sierra Leone

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Vivisection is a social evil because if it advances human knowledge, it does so at the expense of human character.  ~George Bernard Shaw