Give the Gift of Light

Regina, 57, lives with her 5 grandchildren. They plant tobacco to keep snakes away from the house. She no longer buys paraffin.

“It lights well. It is so bright. We have no problem. It benefits us all. With paraffin, I was worried about fire accidents and smoke which got into our noses. I can even use it to go to the latrine.”

Olivia (18 years old) who is learning to be a beautician, lives with her elderly grandmother (73 years old) and 1 yr old son, Immaculate. She uses her solar light for her small business until 10 pm when she closes, 2 hours longer than before she had a light.

She is now making 50% more income and is saving 500 shillings each day to invest in opening her own salon someday.

Sarah lives with her 4 children and her husband. “The light helped me so much especially when I was pregnant. My husband was away and the medical workers had no paraffin. I also had no money to pay. But I brought my light and everyone was so happy. Now, whenever they see us, they say, 'Hey, that is the one who brought her own solar to the delivery!' I can’t imagine how I would have survived. I love it so so much, it could help so many pregnant women.”

“With the savings, I now am in a savings group and save 2,000UGX every Sunday!”

Maria is the mother of Irene, age 5, disabled and abandoned by her father. With 10 people in their household, they used to spend 2,000/wk on paraffin. Now they use the savings for medicine to treat Irene’s epilepsy. The use the solar light at night to ease Irene's sleep and her special needs during the night.