Make an orphaned child the “Light of Your Life”

Summary

Our campaign will end the use of harmful and polluting candles and kerosene by providing solar and wind-up Lifelights – which are clean, safe, LED lanterns isolated orphaned families in Rwanda project reportread updates from the field

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More Information About this Project

Project Needs and Beneficiaries

Rwanda has more than 101,000 households headed by a child. The poorest of the poor - most children live in extreme poverty and are dependent on dangerous and polluting kerosene and candles for light. The innovative solar powered, wind-up Lifelight will enable children study, to see properly to cook their food, to safely walk at night to the toilet and to see snakes, spiders and other dangers – real or imagined.

Activities

Working in collaboration with partners to distribute Lifelights, we train in their use/care and present an environmental program to encourage stewardship of their local environment

Funding Information

Total Funding Received to Date: $6,040
Remaining Goal to be Funded: $93,960
Total Funding Goal: $100,000

Resources

Why this Project is Important

Potential Long Term Impact

10,000 child-headed households will have immediate access to sustainable, affordable, safe, clean energy lighting. 10,000 child-headed households will be able to read, do homework, cook and play after dark.

Project Message

The Light of Your Life Campaign will reach the most vulnerable communities who have no access to electricity, whilst appreciating the orphans of Rwanda represent only a tiny fraction those in Africa
- Kristine Pearson, Chief Executive of the Freeplay Foundation

Who is Running This Project

Contact

Bhavna Malkani
Digital Fundraising and Marketing Manager
71 Gloucester Place
London, W1U 8JW
United Kingdom
+ 44 20 7935 5350
Email:

Project Sponsor

Freeplay Foundation

Organization

Freeplay Foundation Logo

Freeplay Foundation
71 Gloucester Place
London, United Kingdom W1U 8JW
United Kingdom
+ 44 (0) 207 935 53
http://www.freeplayfoundation.org

Where this Project is Located

Country

This project is located in RwandaRwanda and can also be found under ChildrenChildren.

For more information about Rwanda, read the Human Development Report on Rwanda or the Wikipedia entry for Rwanda.

When this Project was Updated

Last Updated

This project was last updated on February 4, 2010.

Date Added to GlobalGiving

This project was added to the GlobalGiving project catalog on November 18, 2008

Latest Update from the Field

Helene's new Lifelight!

By Bhavna Malkani - Digital Marketing and Fundraising Manager, December 22, 2009 12:09 PM

Jean de Dieu and Helene receive their LifelightJean de Dieu and Helene receive their Lifelight
In 1994 genocide, Helene Ntebanganyimana's family fled to a refugee camp in Burundi.

On their return two years later, their father was shot dead in front of them. Five years ago their mother died of AIDS.

For all their tragedy and heartbreak, they feel hopeful for the future.

Since losing both parents, Jean de Dieu, the oldest child in the family has taken on the role of head of household, because he has to look after his two younger sisters, Helene and Charmaine he has never had the opportunity to go to school.

For lighting, the children mainly use lit sticks because they seldom have money for candles or kerosene. In addition, they live two hours from any shop.

In October, the family received a Lifelight. The Lifelight enables them to study, see properly to cook and walk safely to the toilet at night.

Helene uses Lifelight to study and can now study once the sun has gone down.

Jean says the Lifelight ensures everyone is safe at night. They don’t have a mosquito net and he says bugs, ants and wasps bother them at night but now he can see them.

Pictures:

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