Solar lighting in rural Africa
This is 20-year-old Sharon Makoni of Chilimboyi, Mumbwa District, in rural Zambia. Last week Sharon joined SolarAid’s first Solar Training Workshop in Zambia. She learned how to construct a simple battery recharger with a small solar panel, and in the photo is seen testing this on a converted kerosene lantern.
I’ve recently started a six-month assignment with MBAs Without Borders in Zambia, with the challenge of helping SolarAid to find a sustainable way of getting small solar products – such as simple solar lanterns – into the hands of Zambia’s rural poor. For people like Sharon, this could mean gaining access to cheaper and healthier lighting, as well as the chance to generate income by establishing her own micro-solar business.
It’s a simple yet incredible idea – and one that could have a huge impact on the lives of millions of people living in poverty. The challenge, of course, is making it happen.
Janelle Tisserand