It is with great pride that we can reflect on launching our social entrepreneurship this year in Cape Town, South Africa. And which better way to get our feet on the ground then by starting of the executing the works for SamSam in the Netherlands who is funding this beautiful project, providing Lawrence House with a fully kitted grid-tied hybride back-up system!
Lawrence House is a child and youth care facility run by the Scalabrini Centre and is based in Woodstock, Cape Town. The house can accommodate up to 25 children and specializes in the care and protection of children who are unaccompanied minors and refugees, as well as children who have experienced trauma.
“Making social impact”
Operating Manager, Romina, talks about the organization with a lot of warmth and commitment. Originating from Italy, she has worked for the organization from the very beginning, when Lawrence House started in 2005: “The children cared for at Lawrence House, no matter how young they are, already carry quite a history with them. The problems they struggle with are of great complexity and the children often display a variety of emotional, psychological and behavioural difficulties”. In addition to a warm and safe home, Lawrence House offers various programs to guide young people along the path of recovery. The goal is for these young people to become equipped with the necessary skills and competencies to manage themselves and to successfully reintegrate into society.
Romina is also honest about the struggles of obtaining the right funds and donations; “the fact that we care for children who are migrants and refugees does not make it any easier. Many funds or private donors prefer organizations that work with local South African children.”
Out with the old,
Our guys are testing the old main distribution board that needed to be replaced in order to tie-in the new PV installation and perform the required initial Certificate of Compliance
and in with the new!
A full new distribution board was installed by the team having the installation up to date with local regulations and standards. Leaving a safe working system behind!
Initial financial support that last for a long time!
SamSam has provided Lawrence House with twenty 460Wp solar panels connected to a 12kW Hybrid inverter. Together with the financial support of the Scalabrini Centre we installed a 16kWh battery back-up system. This grid-tied hybrid back-up system creates a 50% decrease of energy costs on an annual basis and still allows for a future extension of solar panels. The fact that the instalment of this system provides an immediate, tangible difference is of great added value to this project. In South Africa people struggle with the effects of ever-rising energy prices and load shedding can be experienced daily. The solar panels combined with back-up batteries minimize this impact for Lawrence house immediately.
“Local engagement”
The preparations and installations were all done with local partners, from engineering, SSEG application, to installation of the system and performance of the Certificate of Compliance. The project was a great success and the whole team enjoyed making this contribution with great pride! Romina says: “Getting up a solar system in a children’s home is not the easiest of tasks! The team was focused on their tasks and completed them with dedication and skill. Thank you for your hard work and commitment!”
A true testament to the Power of Sharing!
