Simple Solutions

Photo Credit: Evans Wadongo

Energy poverty is a widely used term but what exactly is it? And why should we be concerned? Energy poverty is when an individual, family, community, or whole city lacks access to modern electricity. Energy poverty contributes to slow economic growth and wide spread poverty. In 2012, it was estimated that 1.3 billion people don’t have access to electricity, which is nearly 19% of the world population, nearly half of these people live in Africa. 

Founder, Evans Wadongo, of Sustainable Development For All is doing what she can to help. Building off firsthand experience -  growing up in poverty in Kenya - Wadongo is making great strides in helping Africans. She designed a solar powered lamp called “MwangaBora” to enable children to do school work at night. Tremendous improvement has been seen in the children’s school work after the distribution of the lights. Something as small and basic as the light seen in the picture can make a world of difference for many. There are still many people living in energy poverty that need our help.  

To read more about Evans Wadongo, Sustainable Development For All, and to find out ways you can help follow the link http://www.one.org/us/2013/06/10/a-personal-approach-to-tackling-energy-poverty-in-africa/