Rape Hurts Foundation (RHF) has taken on a unique project to support women and child headed families to improve their health and fight household poverty at the grassroots. We believe that universal access to renewable energy is the best way to alleviate poverty. And the best way to ensure universal access is through a unique mix of charity, business and innovation (CBI).
We have set-up a social enterprise, Light&Health who are now selling solar Systems in Eastern Uganda especially Kamuli, Jinja, Kaliro, Buyende and Iganga. Light&Health are selling Solar light Systems fast, they are helping build sustainable markets, they are creating jobs and they are ensuring money stays in the local economy. To put it simply, they are the reason why we have created a brave and ambitious goal; to eradicate the kerosene lamp from Eastern Uganda by 2020.
But that’s only part of the picture. We’re also helping to create innovative solutions such as payas- you-go solar, we’re undertaking large-scale research projects and sharing our knowledge and expertise with partners and like-minded organisations. We know we can’t eradicate the kerosene lamp on our own; so we’re building an alliance, we’re creating a movement step by step.
Light&Health
Solar lights are the solution. But what’s the point in having a solution if you can’t get it to the people?
The Light&Health Way
- Light&Health’s unique community distribution model uses 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.
- This sparks the market conditions required for local shops and independent agents to be able to sell a range of solar lights profitably within their community so that solar lights become available for people to purchase all year round. Light&Health supports these local entrepreneurs by providing marketing campaigns, training and shipping of products.
- Light&Health continues to find ways to drive demand by creating brand awareness, community engagement and media attention. They run promotions and find ways to market new products cost effectively in order to make solar more affordable and meet customers’ increasing demand for bigger and better products, so the market continues to thrive.
- Though solar light systems are not made from Uganda, they are tax free.
“Widespread energy poverty still condemns billions to darkness, ill health and missed opportunities for education and prosperity.” UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon
The problem
74% of the 38 million people in Uganda alone have no access to electricity. Without electricity families have no clean source of light, leaving millions to rely on expensive and dangerous alternatives. Many use homemade kerosene lamps which are a poor source of light; they emit toxic black smoke, eat up to 25% of a family’s income and are extremely hazardous. Children can’t study at night, the working day ends prematurely and indoor air pollution presents a serious health hazard.
The solution
With a solar light, everything changes.
- Solar light customers tell us that investing in a solar light saves money, improves health, makes their homes safer and helps children study at night.
- Each solar light shining also means one less kerosene lamp, saving around 200kg of carbon dioxide per year.
“Which plastic gadget, fitting neatly into one hand, can most quickly improve the lives of the world’s poorest people… over the next decade it will be the solar-powered lamp.” The Economist
Why we sell lights?
- We are pioneering a truly sustainable model. We created a social enterprise, Light&Health, who sell lights via school networks and local enterprises. But why sell them you ask? Well, in short, it allows money to be reinvested back in to our work, encourages job creation and ensures money stays in the local economy. With increasing demand for solar, other players begin to enter the market creating more access than ever before. We are establishing a market that will reach far beyond the lights that Light&Health sells. A market that will eventually light up an entire region and leave a lasting energy legacy.