New York, NY -- (SBWire) -- 08/21/2015 --About half of the world's mountain gorillas live in the forests of Uganda, according to experts.  Now, a foundation with vision has launched an IndieGoGo campaign to raise funds to bring solar power to the Nkuringo Integrated Model School on the outskirts of the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Southwestern Uganda, Africa.  The school, which houses 184 students, has no power, lights or refrigeration capabilities, so concerned friends have set a goal to raise $8,800 to implement a solar power system that will not harm the surrounding wildlife, including the endangered gorillas.

The solar power will provide light for classrooms, dormitories and offices; allow refrigeration for food preservations; allow students to cultivate and store mushrooms to sell for money to meet expenses; power phones, photocopiers and computers; and allow Internet access.  Many of these children have never had the experience of having reliable electrical sources, so this project is designed to help them overcome this obstacle as well as to protect the gorillas and other wildlife with which they share their forest.

The solar system will include ten 250 Watt panels, two 150 Watt panels, a solar refrigerator, 19 internal lights, 16 security lights, five phone chargers, 12 low-power laptop chargers, seven 200 Ahr backup batteries and 35 Ultra Energy LED bulbs. 

For more information on the school and students as well as the gorillas, visit www.empowersafrica.org, www.facebook.com/empowersafrica and www.instagram.com/empowersafrica

The IndieGoGo campaign, located at https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/light-the-way-for-education#/story, offers pledge levels from $10 to $500 with perks ranging from solar lights to t-shirts. 

For more information, visit the website.

About Solar System Project
The solar system project for the Nkuringo Integrated Model School in the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest in Uganda, Africa, will provide a reliable source of power for the students without harming local wildlife such as mountain gorillas.  Now, concerned friends have launched an IndieGoGo campaign to raise funds for this worthy cause.

Contact:
Contact Person: Krista Krieger
Company: Empowers Africa
Address: New York City, New York, USA
Email: kriegerk@empowerafrica.org
Phone: 917-821-4358
Website:  http://www.empowersafrica.org/