Sol Malawi

In sub-Saharan Africa, 590 million people live without access to mains electricity. Often there is no alternative for these people than to use kerosene lanterns, candles, or even open fires to provide light once the sun goes down. These light sources produce CO2 emissions; are a cause of risks to health, responsible for respiratory diseases resulting from pollution; create the risk of fire and and involve the cost of buying fuel where often earnings are only about $2 a day.

So how does this project work? Offsetting CO2 emissions is achieved by making a relatively small contribution to the project, which then enables solar powered lamps to be provided to a specific community in the target region in Africa. The lamps are not simply donated; they are supplied as part of a Social Enterprise which is run by Solar Aid, called Sunny Money, which enables the proceeds from use of the lamps to be re-invested in the ongoing work.

The Rotary Club of Danetre Daventry is promoting this project to help clubs and their members to achieve a meaningful offset, or compensation, for their CO2 emissions. You might be surprised to know that the average ‘carbon footprint’ in Britain is 8 tonnes per person per annum. We are working with a UK charity, Solar Aid, to help offset our emissions by encouraging the use of solar rechargeable lamps to replace kerosene lanterns in various places.

The project has strong links with the climate change objectives and aims to provide a legitimate method for members to offset their carbon footprint whilst supporting international projects that have immediate impact.

 If you wish to donate to the project, please visit the Sol Malawi page on the run by Rotary Club of Danetre Daventry website.