Light a Village Project

It is estimated that only 34% of people in sub-Sahara Africa have access to electricity. Most rely on burning biomass and wood for cooking, illumination and heat. In MANDO's community many people also rely on costly kerosene or paraffin for indoor lighting and expensive batteries for simple luxuries like radio. These fumes cause eye infections.

To combat these unhealthy alternatives, MANDO introduced solar lamps. Benefits became apparent: Children could study into the evening; women felt more secure traveling away from home; fire hazards lessened; health improves; money was saved that previously went for candles.

A store in the Eremit community opened with a stock of 450 solar lamps. The lamps sell for 3,900 KES (USD 46.50). Credit and installment payments can be arranged. Sunlite's manufacturers in Nairobi offered a 10% discount, and donor backing brought the price down to half retail price. Now more than 500 households will receive solar powered lights in the Ewangan Light a Village project.