The Firefly system

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light.”

Produced by Communication for Development Foundation Uganda (CDFU) for: Accion International Energy Links Project.
 The Firefly system. 

“Get educated about this affordable and healthy alternative to the ‘tadooba ’ so that it
gives you good light. It lasts for a long time!”

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

 

This flip chart has been developed as a guide for the facilitator
• To educate rural communities about the benefits of the Firefly system.
• To train people so that they can use the Firefly system for a long time while it is giving them bright light.

• To make sure users understand and follow the instructions concerning the disposal of the used parts of the Firefly system.

Target audience: Community members aged between 18 and 60 years because they are likely to purchase the Firefly system.

Each page on the facilitator’s side will be split into two sections. In the top half there will be the text that relates to the pictures
on the page that can be seen on the community members’ side and a small picture similar to the one that appears on the
community members’ side.

Instructions for using the flip chart

• Use this flip chart as a tool to explain issues related to the use of the Firefly system.
• Use/ show the chart page by page.
• The front side of each page provides information to the community members.
• Use the illustration to generate discussion, for example, for each page, first ask “what do you see in this picture?”
• The backside provides you - the facilitator, with additional information for reference.
• The backside begins with a question that you can ask the audience to guide the discussion.
• Allow the audience to ask you questions about the topic.

• You can also ask additional questions to learn about their situation and check for their understanding of the material.

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

The Firefly system. 

1 2

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

The Firefly system. 

What do you see in the pictures?

Which of the two lights do you think is better and why?

Introduction: The facilitator should introduce the system as follows;

The Firefly system was produced to provide clean light for people in rural areas. The system provides light by converting solar
energy into usable power. It is composed of three parts; a casing with the LED lights, a removable battery and the solar panel.

Why the Firefly system is becoming popular in rural areas.

• The Firefly system is easy to use.

• The system enables you to save money that you would have spent on paraffin.

• It is safe for your home; there is no risk of fire out break.

• The Firefly system is healthy (it does not produce smoke).

• The system provides bright light. It is 10 times brighter than a ‘tadooba’.

• The system provides light for at least six hours when fully charged.

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

How to charge the Firefly system. 

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

How to charge the Firefly system. 

What do you see in the picture?

What is the gentleman in the picture doing?
What should you do before using the Firefly system?
How can you make sure your Firefly is not stolen?
What other bad things might happen to it?

The picture is about charging of the Firefly system.

Before using the Firefly system, charge it for at least four hours in bright sunlight. Note: If the weather is cloudy, you should
charge the system for at least six hours.

How to position the Firefly system for charging.

Step 1: Put the system on a table or stool where children and animals cannot reach and plug the cable of the solar panel
into the lamp. Do not hold or hang the panel by its wire.
Step 2: Put the panel in sunlight for the system to start charging automatically. Make sure the panel is facing the sun so that
the battery charges properly.
Step 3: Watch over your Firefly system so that no one steals the panel or lamp.
Step 4: Keep the system in the sunlight for at least four hours. If the weather is cloudy, you should charge the system for at
least six hours.
Step 5: Disconnect the lamp by gently pulling the plug from the solar panel. The lamp should be ready for use. Keep the
panel in a safe place, ready for use the next day. Do not wrap the wire around the panel but coil it (the wire) loosely.

Note: You can charge the system from anywhere as long as the panel is facing the sun.

Safety measure: Always watch over your Firefly system while it is charging to prevent it from being stolen, spoilt by
children or rain.

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

How to use the Firefly system. 

1 2

3 4

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

How to use the Firefly system. 

What do you see in the pictures?

What is the gentleman in the picture doing?
What is the family doing?
What is the woman in the picture doing?

To use the Firefly, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Disconnect the panel from the lamp and place the lamp on a stable stand like a table or a stool.

Step 2: Switch it on to get light.

Step 3: Switch off your Firefly lamp after use, before going to bed or when the light is dim. Don’t let the lamp run all the
way down! When the light gets dim, you must turn it off.

Step 4: Keep your Firefly system in a safe and dry place such as a cupboard to protect the sensitive parts.

Step 5: Recharge the battery using the solar panel for at least four hours every day.

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

Various ways of using the Firefly system. 10

1 2

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

Various ways of using the Firefly system. 11

What do you see in picture 1?

What do you see in picture 2?
What do you see in picture 3?

What are the different ways of using the Firefly system?

• You can hang the lamp on a high surface such as a cupboard to provide light to the whole room.

• You can put the Firefly lamp on a desk to help you read your books or newspapers.

• You can also use the lamp indirectly by shining it against a light coloured surface so that the light is reflected into the
room.

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

 The stages of a Firefly lamp 12

A very bright lamp A bright lamp with a partially A dim lamp with a low battery.
with a fully charged lamp. charged battery. Switch it off immediately!

1 2 3

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

The stages of a Firefly lamp 13

What do you see in this picture?

What do you think will happen to your Firefly lamp after some time?

As you use the Firefly lamp everyday, it will pass through three stages of brightness;

1) The VERY BRIGHT LIGHT stage: This happens when the Firefly system is fully charged. At this stage; the Firefly lamp
gives you very bright light.

2) The BRIGHT LIGHT stage: The firefly lamp will give you bright light for about 4 hours. During this time, it is okay for you
to use the lamp without recharging the battery.

3) The DIM LIGHT stage: This is where the Firefly system gives you dim light. This happens after using the Firefly system
for a period of 4 -6 hours. When the lamp becomes dim, you should switch it off imediately and recharge your battery
for 4 hours in bright sunlight. Note: If your lamp remains dim after 4 hours of recharging in bright sunlight,
contact an authorised distributor of the Firefly systems so that you can purchase a new bulb or battery for
your system.

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

How to keep your Firefly system working for a long time. 14

1 2 3

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

How to keep your Firefly system working for a long time. 15

What do you see in the picture?

How can you keep your firefly system safe?
What can you do to keep your Firefly system safe and working for a long time?

• You should keep the Firefly system away from children, rain and animals to prevent them from breaking or spoiling it.

• You should keep the system in a dry place (and away from rain) to protect the sensitive parts.

• You should remember to charge the Firefly system once a day for at least four hours so that it can store power. If the
weather is cloudy, you should charge the system for at least six hours.

• Contact an authorised distributor to purchase and replace parts that do not work.

• You should refer to your local distributor or an authorised Firefly sales person for any questions about the Firefly
system.

• You should switch off your lamp after using it, when you are going to sleep, or when the light is dim to avoid draining
the battery.

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

Disposing off your Firefly system 16

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

Disposing off your Firefly system 17

What do you see in this picture?

What is the lady in the picture doing?
What are the gentlemen in the picture doing?
Where should you put your used up batteries and bulbs?

• Always return your spoilt or used up batteries to an authorized Firefly distributor for proper disposal of these items. He/
she will sell to you new Firefly parts at a reduced price when you return the old ones.

• It is important to return your spoilt or used up parts to the authorised distributor because those materials contain
chemical substances that can be harmful to you and your family if they if they are thrown in a wrong place.

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

Why the Firefly system is good for your family. 18

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”

Why the Firefly system is good for your family. 19

What do you see in this picture?

Why should you use the Firefly system to provide light to your home?

You should use the Firefly system to provide light to your home because;
• The Firefly system helps you to save money that you would have used to buy paraffin.

• It enables you to continue with your work at night.

• The Firefly lamp is brighter than a paraffin lamp/tadooba. It is 10 times brighter than a tadooba.

• The Firefly system is safe for your home; there is no risk of fire burning you.

• The system provides light for at least six hours when fully charged.

• It enables your children to do their homework at night.

• The Firefly system is healthy; it does not produce smoke.

• It is easy to use (the facilitator should explain this statement to the audience).

“Your affordable, safe and healthy source of light”