"Help SolarAid build a brighter, cleaner future - Richard Branson"
SolarAid is an international charity that combats poverty and climate change by providing solar powered lights to rural African communities. Every £4 donation allows SolarAid to distribute one more solar light, averting approximately 1.1 tonnes of CO2 that would have otherwise been emitted from a kerosene lamp in its place.
Currently, 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa have no access to electricity. Instead they are forced to rely on dangerous and unsustainable alternatives such as candles or kerosene lamps. As well as being an effective way to avert the harmful emissions of candles and kerosene lamps and educate communities on clean energy, solar lights also help reduce poverty, improve safety and further education.
So far SolarAid has reached 10 million people with clean, safe and affordable solar light.
What will your donations do?
Your donations will allow SolarAid to do what they do best – provide access to solar lights in rural Africa through their two-step distribution model.
Their unique community distribution model works with teachers to raise trust and build awareness of solar. Each light shining in the night attracts neighbours and as word spreads, the demand for solar lights grows. SolarAid then trains a network of sales agents, local entrepreneurs to provide permanent access to a variety of solar lights.
The introduction of renewable energy in rural communities shapes the way people view energy production, showing the benefits of clean technology and enabling them to leap-frog the ‘dirty’ stage of development and paving the way for sustainable solar markets and a brighter future.
See the full impact of your donations with SolarAid’s impact calculator.