How SolarAid helped Stephen escape a life of poverty
Stephen's life has been marked by hardship.
Stephen was not only born into a poor, one-parent family in Iringa, Tanzania. He was also born severely disabled. Most of his early years were spent in and out of hospital to treat a condition that nobody could identify. Sadly, disabled people often suffer tremendously in Tanzania. Families tend to hide them away, ashamed of the stigma associated with disability. Government support is non-existent. And people with disabilities often become a burden to their families, who are struggling to earn enough money to survive.
That's why SolarAid and Neema, a partner organisation based in Iringa, focus on helping people with disabilities improve their lives. By helping them set up micro-businesses selling solar products, people like Stephen can earn enough to feed themselves - and make a vital contribution to their family and community.
Solar products, such as lanterns, radios and mobile phones are an ideal solution for communities' power problems in Africa. Only two per cent of the rural population in Tanzania has access to grid electricity. This means they are forced to spend a large amount of their meagre wage on expensive fuel for their kerosene lamps and batteries. Burning kerosene emits toxic carbon, causing respiratory diseases and household fires. While disposed batteries pollute the environment.
Using locally sourced wires, crocodile clips and conduit to make a plastic frame, we can teach people like Stephen how a one-watt solar panel can be made into a solar charger. This costs no more than £7, including overheads and wages.
Now, Stephen is able to earn a living and provide for himself. He is no longer a burden to his family and has become a key member of his community.