Make an orphaned child the “Light of Your Life”

This child-only family in far northern Rwanda was utterly destitute.  There are five children, and the eldest boy, Manuel, 15, was away doing odd-jobs to earn money for food when we arrived with our local partner.  Faina, 13, looks after the three smaller children while Manual tries to eke out a living. The...

This is 21-year old Diane, who has been heading her household since she was 11 and looks after four younger siblings. The family inherited the two roomed mud brick house when their parents were killed in a raid by militia from bordering Congo.  The isolated dwelling sits high above Musanze town in northern Rwanda on a...

Dozens of Rwandan children were there to greet Kristine Pearson as she personally delivered 28 of Lifeline Energy’s solar-powered lights to child-headed and very vulnerable households to a village in the Bugasera district. Dressed in their best clothes, the children from a village close to Nyamata welcomed Kristine at...

Standing in his embassy office in Washington, The Honorable James Kimonyo was smiling broadly, his eyes twinkling with delight as he held a Lifelight for the first time. “Light is needed in every situation in Rwanda,” he told us. “People go to bed at 7:00 p.m. for lack of light!” The Rwandan Ambassador to the...

Sonia, 14 received a wind-up and solar-powered Lifelight thanks to your support. She lives in a small, two-roomed traditional mud and thatch house. Sonia became the head of her household last September when her mother died of TB. Her also father passed away August. Sonia looks after her two year old sister, Salah....

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...

Most of Africa is extremely poorly served with electricity. Much evidence exists stresses the link between poverty and the lack of access to clean, modern energy. The primary source of lighting in sub-Saharan Africa is from firewood, candles and kerosene lamps, which come in a variety of shapes, sizes and materials from a...

The Freeplay Foundation distributed Lifelights before Christmas and they are already made a positive impact in the lives of orphaned families. Children tell us how they feel safer and more secure at night, that they walk to the toilet and neighbors. Those who are using them to study all report improved school grades....