Writer: Minal Jain

Africa, the land of the big 5, of magnificent wildlife, of sun, sun and more sun!

And while the saying goes that “make hay while the sun shines”, one such charity in Africa, Solar Aid, believes in making solar lamps, while the sun shines.

We in Hong Kong, the city of lights, of around 7.5 million people, can turn on our lamps with the flick of a switch and light up our homes and nights. Now contrast that to the 598 million people in Africa who have no access to electricity, no access to a clean source of light, who rely on homemade kerosene lamps that are expensive and hazardous. They causes fatal burns, eye and lung problems and release black carbon into the environment. The high cost and dim light prevents night time reading, work and socializing, affecting their living quality.

Solar-Aid, an international charity to combat poverty and climate change. sells little solar lamps via school networks and local enterprises in Malawi and Zambia through their social enterprise SunnyMoney. These solar lamps are safe, clean and affordable. They give off hours of light in the evening so families can earn, learn and feel safe after dark. These lights are available right now, and will ensure the very poorest can begin to use immediately without having to wait for a grid system that may never come.

The business model is sustainable because the money earned is reinvested back into their work, encouraging job creation and ensuring that money stays in the local economy. If people are unable to afford them, the team would think of new and innovative ways to help them get on the energy ladder, such as pay as you go solar.

The Solar Aid team travel to remote rural areas, educate and create campaigns to get the market started. They offer entry level solar lights at special prices. They drive demand of solar light via new products, promotions, advertising, media campaigns, brand building and customer care.

While the hope and wish that someday the entire world will have access to clean energy may have some way further to go, what Solar Aid provides is truly an Aladdin’s lamp that can transform the fortunes of many families.

Source :
https://solar-aid.org/
http://www.sunnymoney.org/

Image Source:
Photo by Corrie Wingate (https://solar-aid.org/)

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