I am very grateful, especially to the women who came to us as a school for the opportunity to acquire solar product – now the children can study at night.
Sofret
This year’s Earth Day on April 22 reminds us all that environmental progress is built locally, through everyday action.
For the communities we work alongside, the issues our planet faces are part of daily life.
Our approach helps communities take action and control their destiny, so progress can last. We focus on what holds people back and the practical changes that matter most.
At a time of global uncertainty, this approach is supporting people take practical steps to protect their land, strengthen their education, businesses and jobs and plan for the future.
At Kambira Primary School in Malawi, you can see this work in action.
Deputy headteacher Sofret Kaledza starts her day early. She keeps the school running, supports staff, and makes sure children are in class and learning.
The school faces challenges. Some children drop out because their families cannot afford fees. Others arrive late after walking long distances. A few rent rooms far from school just to attend.
For a long time, lighting was another problem. The school is in a remote area, not connected to the national electricity grid. Teachers and pupils relied on torches with rechargeable batteries. Charging them meant a long journey to the nearest town. When the light failed, there was no backup.
Things changed when a local seller of solar energy systems from a company called Village Solar introduced a lighting system the school could afford.
The school committee knew that this was their chance to solve the problem of lighting at the school. They took charge of the situation and worked with parents to raise the money to buy a system. The difference has been immediate. Classrooms are now lit in the evenings. Children stay to study after dark.
Village Solar is part of a wider network we support. It connects entrepreneurs who bring essential products to remote communities. It reflects the idea behind this year’s Earth Day theme: Our Power, Our Planet by demonstrating that change is sustainable when people control the tools and decisions that shape their lives.
The wider network we support is called the Global Distributors Collective. The Collective was set up by a number of organisations, including Practical Action, in 2018.
It now connects hundreds of businesses and entrepreneurs working across more than 60 countries to reach people in remote communities with beneficial products. Each one provides an essential service, delivered by local people in remote areas where government services are often lacking.
Sofret told us; “I am very grateful, especially to the women who came to us as a school for the opportunity to acquire solar product – now the children can study at night.”
Sofret’s focus is on the future. She wants to see more children from her community reach university. She sees education as something that lifts everyone. When more people learn, the whole community grows stronger.
Watch our short video for a picture of how Village Solar works with the GDC in practice – from the challenges of reaching last-mile communities to how distributors are building viable businesses while improving access to everyday essential products.