FAQs

 

My school isn’t listed, can you add it to your list?

Yes! Please let us know the name and location of your school and we will put it on our list and map it out.

Can I send money to Project 1781 for powering and connecting a school?

Please don’t send money directly to us. We will connect you with the proper officials of Department of Education or NGOs and foundations who can accept your donation and light up and connect a school.

Who can I partner with to power and connect a school?

There are many foundations and NGOs who work with last mile schools. We will happily connect you with a number of reputable ones for you to choose from.

Why is lack of connectivity and power such a problem in the Philippines?

As of 2024, 1,781 public primary and secondary schools had no access to electricity, affecting almost 400,000 students in the Philippines. As a result, attendance, dropout rates and academic performance are adversely affected, with performance lagging by 10-12% in National Achievement Tests for students in non-energised schools compared to energised ones.

 

Students who live without access to energy also remain isolated from the world, as they have no access to the internet. This prevents them from accessing quality digital learning and opportunities online, enlarging the digital divide between the connected and the disconnected. The UNICEF and International Telecommunication Union have called for investments to bridge this divide, but how?

 

The Philippines is an archipelago with over 7,100 islands, with many isolated communities. Many of the rural areas depend on diesel generators that are costly and pollute the environment. And the persistent use of biomass has harmful consequences for health, the environment and economic and social development. Clearly, renewable energy would be key to electrification. Connecting schools (once electrified) to the internet may be made easier through Starlink. But communities have little or no excess funds to pay for the monthly fees, much less the Starlink device and the computers needed to take advantage of the connection. Lastly, the investments for solarizing a school and connecting them to the internet are significant. While there are donors willing and able to provide solar energy panels, Starlink kits, and computers, many are not aware of the schools in need of such.

 

PROJECT 1781
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