A visitor to Zambia, Regina Cholnoky took time out to visit Twabuka Primary and Sinde Village as part of a cultural activity offered by Children in the Wilderness and Toka Leya Camp. Her heart went out to this poor rural community when she learned that once the sun went down, all activity stopped in the village as the majority of people had no access to electricity, or had efficient lighting in their homes. This not only affected the household chores, but children attending school were unable to complete homework or study.
On returning home, Regina had an idea to brighten up the lives of the residents of Sinde – she researched solar lighting and came up with a plan to supply the user friendly, blow up, waterproof, Luci Lights (https://mpowerd.com/) to each family in the village. What a life changing event for the families of Sinde!
Luci®, an inflatable solar light, created in 2012 with the goal of making an affordable clean energy product that people could use in any situation — from outdoor camping adventures, to backyard parties, to everyday living for people in developing countries without electricity.
Luci taps into a source of light that’s limitless and readily available to everyone on our planet — the sun. Advancements in renewable technology have given us the means to literally put the power of the sun into a device that fits in the palm of your hand.
Here is what a few residents of Sinde Village think of their Luci Solar Lights:
Ruth Situmbeko – “We have been using firewood for light all of my life, now, thank you to Luci and Regina for the Solar Light, we will cut down on the wood we use, there will be no smoke damaging our eyes, our lives are now safe from household fires and we can read and sew at night after completing the chores ’’
Kelvin Malambo – ‘the provision of solar light has reduced my cost of living, the sunlight is free and am now saved from buying batteries for light. ’’
Mary Sekute – “I am 89 years, before this I had never seen or used solar before. I had no means of getting a cost effective light in all that time and my eyes grow dim. Thank you, you have saved the light and eyes for me the old woman.”
Precious Mungo – “I am a volunteer teacher and this light will help me to mark all the school books in the night after school. It takes me long and I don’t always finish so now there will be happy children”
Charity Hamala – “I am at Simoonga Secondary school writing my Grade 10 this year and there is plenty work – I will be able to study at night now and get better marks, this light makes it easier for me to pass my exams”