Gift A Solar Lantern...Empower Rural Women & Girls

Families tell us that solar lights are predominantly used by children to do their homework after dark. With access to this bright, safe, clean, and free light,  children are doing an extra hour of homework each day. Headteachers at the school Kukula Solar work report improvements in performance, attendance, concentration, and motivation of their pupils as a result. When children do well at school, they are likely to stay there longer and gain a higher level of education benefiting themselves, their families, and their communities.

The Economic Impact

With solar light, families tell us they save money from reduced spending on lighting alternatives like kerosene, candles, and battery torches. An average solar light user will recoup the cost of their solar light in 10 weeks. Nine in ten Kukula Solar customers live below the poverty line of $1.25 per day. The proportion of income they spend on lighting is significant and so having access to a solar light is life-changing. Solar light users tell us they spend their savings on food, school costs, and investment in livelihoods – starting a virtuous cycle of development and progress.

The Impact On Health

Each solar light bought by a household in rural Africa results in the elimination of the regular use of one kerosene lamp and this means there is less indoor air pollution. A kerosene lamp releases thick, toxic smoke into a family’s homes, and 4 million people per year die prematurely from illnesses attributable to household air pollution. Happily, with a solar light over half of the families notice an improvement in health as a result; including a reduction in coughing, chest problems, eye irritation, and illness.

Help us get more lights to rural households in Africa!

Merry Christmas and a Happy 2024!