Challenges in rural households

oPPORTUNITIES TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO HOUSEHOLDS

Project Title: A summary of problems in households in Linga Linga, Mozambique: As well as an evaluation of possible technical solutions
Students:  Erica Eriksson, Sofia Johansson Gunnarsson
School: Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), Stockholm
Degree: Bachelor of Engineering
Major: Energy and Sustainable Development
Program: Minor Field Study (MFS), Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida)

For their bachelor’s thesis in 2018, students Erica Eriksson and Sofia Johansson Gunnarsson worked with Project Vita to assess the everyday challenges that households in Linga Linga village face and determine how best to prioritize and implement solutions. Life in rural areas of low-income countries involves such difficulties as lack of electricity, long distances to medical help, or the absence of higher education opportunities. 

People should feel included in the development of their society. It is therefore crucial that nonprofit organizations involve local community members in their projects as it is  important that people feel included in the development of their society.

Therefore, Erica and Sofia therefore interviewed households in Linga Linga to  determine what challenges they met in their everyday lives. They investigated whether there could be technical solutions available for these problems. One critical factor was that the resources to implement technical solutions must be available close to the village to permit duplication throughout the village. The students found that most households lack access to transportation, preventing them from improving their living standards. The students compiled data in a table to allow them to best prioritize what challenges through  technical solutions using local resources. 

Several students working with Project Vita have since used Erica and Sofia’s findings to determine the scope and technical solutions for their own projects.

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