Together We Shine: Helping one billion people rise above light poverty
Over one billion people live without electrical lighting when the sun goes down. They rely on burning dangerous kerosene, wood, charcoal, or other fuels if they can afford them. Modern solar/battery lighting systems are beginning to make inroads, especially for clinics and other organizations, but billions still suffer without light. A number of organizations of all sizes, including small groups of makers are working to change this. I’m one of them.
Women shoulder the burden.
Fuel is a burden. Valuable time and energy is spent acquiring it. For those with light or energy poverty, if they want to eat or see after dark they must spend time and energy collecting or purchasing fuel to heat their food, their homes, and produce light once the sun goes down. That time, which could be used by adults to start or run businesses, or children who could be in school is lost day after day. Girls, particularly, shoulder this responsibility world wide, as prioritization of resources for families tends to trade girls’ educations for fuel gathering and other chores.
