News and views

‘No More Blah Blah Blah’ – Taking Climate Action

  As we reflect on COP27, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Antonio Guterres’s opening speech warned us that “we are on a highway to climate hell with our foot still on the accelerator.” And the BBC is reporting that ‘nations deeply divided over cash to help poor countries cope with the impacts of climate […]

Kesilina stands with her family outside her home.

For brighter futures, just add light

  As the sun sets, millions of families are without electricity, forced to burn dirty kerosene lamps or straw to light their home. However, a solar light provides safe, clean, energy – it brings communities together and creates a brighter future, in an instant. Farmers can sort their crops, children can study, patients can be […]

COP27: URGENT ACTION IS NEEDED TO FIGHT POVERTY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

  The 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) – the largest annual conference on climate change in the world – is starting next week. Leaders from across the world are gathering in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt alongside ministers, civil society, global businesses and organisations to accelerate progress towards our global fight against the climate crisis. […]

Increased feeling of safety from latest impact research

  SolarAid has brand new impact research! As part of our ongoing commitment to not only reach customers, but to also understand and maximise our impact, we conducted customer surveys in 2022.  This project was undertaken by the sector leading impact research organisation, and long-term partner, 60 Decibels. Customers were spoken to twice, before and […]

Rising to the energy crisis

  The cost of getting solar energy to those that need it most is rising – but we believe it’s worth it. SolarAid was established in 2006 to combat poverty and tackle climate change. Since then, our supporters have enabled us, together with our award winning social enterprise SunnyMoney and our partners, to distribute over […]

Taking a stand to reduce Solar e-waste

  “Initiatives and projects like the ones being implemented by SolarAid not only see non-functioning electronic products like solar lights brought back to life, but also contribute to sustainable management of electronic waste and provide business opportunities to local technicians.” According to the  Global E-Waste Monitor 2020 report, the global quantity of E-Waste is increasing […]

Spending a Night Without Light

  Mirjana Škrba is Chair of SolarAid board, who has taken on the challenge of spending a Night Without Light. She spent the evening using only the power of solar light, to experience what it’s like for the nearly 600 million people in sub-Saharan Africa without electricity. _____ My night without light started at about […]

Method Matters to Women Entrepreneurs

  Working in partnerships with other innovative organisations is a key part of SolarAid’s strategy. We are also recognising the power of women entrepreneurship in providing energy access in rural communities, where women are key change makers. This is a story from SolarAid’s partner in Senegal, ElleSolaire. ElleSolaire works to support women entrepreneurs to build last mile […]

Trailing the journey of the solar light in Zambia

Has it ever occurred to you how most times, we only tend to appreciate the things we take for granted when we visit places outside of our comfort zone? As the Zambian saying goes (in one of the local languages Bemba), “Umwana ashenda atasha nina ukunaya”, directly translated as; “A child who doesn’t travel only […]

A solar light above a book.

Sharing our models – The Solar Light Library Toolkit

  Today, on World Youth Skills Day, SolarAid is thrilled to announce the development of its new Solar Light Library Toolkit. This is an open source toolkit which has been developed to help schools and development organisations set up their own solar Light Libraries to help ensure that every student has access to light. At […]