In the slums of Manila and in the isolated villages on the island of Samar in the Philippines, millions of people live in substandard housing with no access to electricity. Help them to access green and sustainable electricity: to equip themselves with an affordable and robust individual solar kit which provides 3 lighting points and a phone charger. ATECo, Entrepreneurs du Monde energy access program, wants to support 1200 families in 2019! The $2,000 collection will allow us to equip 240!
With no available electricity, families living in extreme poverty use kerosene lamps, candles and battery-operated torches which are expensive, give poor light, cause devastating fires and have a detrimental effect on their health (burns, toxic fumes) and their environment. How can anyone live safely, work or study in these conditions?
In order to equip these families quickly and without asking for an initial financial payment, our fitters and collectors use an innovative technology: each family makes a regular payment of the equivalent of a few days' consumption. This payment triggers the sending of a code by sms to activate the kit, which provides good quality, renewable, free and unlimited solar lighting, bringing people out of darkness and allowing them to run their business or homework and keep thieves and rats at bay.
This project is having a rapid effect on: 1. families: they benefit from healthy, quality lighting, and are able to save; 2. fitters and collectors: they have an income and are proud to be involved in improving their neighbours' quality of life; 3. the environment: this is no longer polluted by greenhouse gas emissions and spent batteries. In 2018 we equipped 300 families in the slums of Manila. This trial is a success, and we aim to equip 1,200 families in 2019!
