About Us

Kuwasha is a community-directed pilot project to support the development of sustainable and affordable solar power infrastructure in the Masurura village within the Musoma District in Tanzania. Like many other rural communities in low-income countries, the villagers use fuel-based lighting to light their homes. As a result, villagers are prone to numerous health and safety risks, while fuel costs also place strenuous limitations on the economic productivity and the income of households. Beyond providing a sustainable source of lighting, the introduction of solar technology will enhance the overall health and wellbeing of villagers, stimulate self-sustainment and rural development, as well as support local capacity in alleviating poverty.

Kuwasha began in 2009 as an international service-learning project initiated by Naeem Mawji, a student from Tanzania (currently studying Engineering at UBC on an “International Leader of Tomorrow” scholarship) who seeks to improve the quality of life of vulnerable people in his community. Kuwasha is a collaboration between the Masurura village (local host community), the Musoma District Council (local government), UBC Centre for International Health (CIH), the UBC Faculty of Applied Science (Engineering), and The Alternative Energy Club (AMS). The project is based on sustainable, supportive and ethical approaches to international engagement and community service-learning. It is supervised by Dr. Shafik Dharamsi, a UBC professor also born in Tanzania, and Dr. Naoko Ellis, a professor in the Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering.

Partnerships formed through Kuwasha will enable Masurura community members with support from UBC students and the local government to develop a long-term, sustainable plan to implement and evaluate a series of development projects based on community identified needs.