Day of Light

Light has the power to illuminate our dreams and create a brighter future.

But globally, 230 million children attend schools without access to electricity. In sub-Saharan Africa, 65% of schools lack access to light. For most students, it isn’t much different at home. After the sun sets, children have no chance to read, no chance to study and no chance to dream of a different future. Without access to safe, affordable light, millions of children risk their lives to study by open flames or hazardous kerosene.

There is a simple solution.

Solar can power the lights that power the dreams of students across sub-Saharan Africa.

Together, we can brighten the way for the next generation of dreamers.

Light Libraries work as regular libraries for books – but for solar lights.

For less than 1p/day, a child can borrow a light and bring it home with them in the evening. The flick of a switch extends the day allowing more time for homework, reading and imagining a future. When homework is done, parents are able to use the light to cook or get ready for bed. It also allows families to familiarise themselves with the power of solar, and understand how this could be a safer and cheaper alternative to candles and kerosene.

In partnership with Book Aid International, we have brought 17 Light Libraries to Malawi.

In 2022, 62 new schools will have solar accessible for their students.

Learn more about Light Libraries.

Dalitso Halario reading outside his house in Malawi. Photo: BookAidInternational/SolarAid/Chris Gagnon.

With the power of his solar light illuminating the page, Dalitso’s imagination can light up too.

He dreams of becoming a teacher, where he can inspire future generations of Malawi’s children. When he’s not playing or reading about football, Dalitso takes home his favourite school book – one about engineering. In it, he discovers how science and technology has changed the world around him and how he could one day do the same. Thanks to the solar lights borrowed from the school Light Library, Dalitso has no limits to his imagination.

Meet Dalitso.

Fabiola Davidson with her younger sisters Erita and Lucy, Malawi. Photo: BookAidInternational/SolarAid/Chris Gagnon.

When a child like Fabriola has access to solar lights, they can read the books that take them on awe-inspiring journeys across foreign landscapes and into space.

They can travel to magical lands under the sea and look into a future where robots rule the world. They can study for a future where they can become nurses, engineers, politicians and teachers.

Meet Fabriola.

“As part of SolarAid’s mission, we are committed to lighting up every school in Africa with safe, clean, solar power.

But we can’t do it alone.

Today, on International Day of Light, SolarAid is calling on the wider international community to recognise the opportunity of solar energy to give millions of children a brighter future.”

-John Keane, CEO, SolarAid

Read John’s Statement.

Flick the switch

Flick the switch and power the future

Launch video