8 Times A Light Made All The Difference!
Light is life. To read at night, or stay awake well past sundown… To walk safely in the evening… But for so many refugees and displaced people around the world, their lives are limited by daylight. In the dark days of winter, we can all relate to needing some light to guide the way. Here are eight times a light made all the difference for refugees around the world.
8 Times A Light Made All The Difference!
1
Light For Youth
At the Alight-run youth center in Kismayo Somalia, young returned refugees get the support they need to adjust to their new lives back home. Many of them are focusing on their studies, getting their literacy and math skills up to speed. But when they leave the center, most of them don’t have access to electricity at night. So we decided to jump in with some solar-powered headlamps for the kids to use however might make the most difference in their lives. “They’ll use the headlamps for some many purposes,” said Zaila, an Alight teammate and mentor at the center. “To read at night. To study and do homework.”
8 Times A Light Made All The Difference!
2
Illuminating Childbirth
Can you imagine giving birth in the darkness? Or helping someone to give birth with only a flashlight? For midwives and moms in Bidi Bidi refugee settlement, Uganda, that was too often the case—there are no lights at the maternity clinic. We knew we needed to think big to solve this problem. A solar lighting system for the clinic was the answer. Now midwives can help mothers deliver their babies safely—in the light.
8 Times A Light Made All The Difference!
3
A Light To Move About Safely
A few years ago, we worked closely with a group of Rohingya Women in Bangladesh who were doing their best to adjust to a life of displacement. One of the many challenges they faced was light—there was very little access to electricity on their block, and no formal security barriers between them and the rest of the camp. Their safety was often at risk. It was clear that they could benefit from some solar-powered energy. Some solar headlamps for the most vulnerable women were a small tool that made a huge impact, giving them the freedom and confidence that light provides.
8 Times A Light Made All The Difference!
4
Lighting Kyangwali
Imagine every night in total darkness. That is how many people in Kyangwali pass every night. For certain individuals who are living on their own or are particularly vulnerable, not having a light can really be terrifying. We delivered solar lanterns to 35 of the most vulnerable individuals in the settlement. The lamps sit out in the sun all day long charging, and then they last for hours of use after the sun goes down!
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5
For The Albino Community
It’s tough for many of us to imagine the absolute darkness that is Nakivale at night. But for the albino community living there, they have no choice but to spend most of their time outside in early morning or evening hours – their skin is extremely sensitive to the sun. We had an idea – bringing a reliable, sun-powered source of light to guide these families in the dark. Solar-powered headlamps! Now, people can go about their business with a boost of confidence, day or night.
8 Times A Light Made All The Difference!
6
For Deaf Students at Oruchinga
The deaf students at the Kajaho Primary School in Oruchinga live in their dorms most of the year. But their electricity is unreliable, and the closest big town is miles away. So when it gets dark, it’s really dark. It’s a particular problem for these kids because “light is the life of the deaf,” teacher Lydia told us. Kids can’t communicate with their teachers or each other in the dark. A doable solution? Solar-powered lights in the dormitories and teacher’s quarters. Now, these kids can read at night, play together, and simply feel a little safer before they go to sleep.
8 Times A Light Made All The Difference!
7
For New Homes, New Beginnings
As refugees return home to the Somali Peninsula, there’s a huge demand for housing, jobs, and ways to integrate these former refugees into the community. In Kismayo, our teams have worked hard to create a housing community specifically designed to meet their needs, a place where they can restart their lives. But the electricity wasn’t up and running yet. Enter lanterns, powered by the sun, so that families don’t have to rely on the power grid to keep their houses alight. “For many people, these lanterns will be a source of light in the house,” said Anab from the Alight team. “They can be used for things like studying for youth.”
8 Times A Light Made All The Difference!
8
For The Police in Palabek
One of the major roles of the police force in Palabek refugee settlement is protecting victims of domestic violence. They’re often the first line of defense, the group that women go to in emergencies. But when the generator goes out, they have no light to guide them. “We need to be able to see what condition they’re in,” said Vicky, the head of the police. The Alight team wanted to find them a fix that they can always depend on. Solar lights and chargers! It’s so easy…they just need to put the solar panel out into the sun.