Green Technologies: The design, production and distribution of Solar Powered Lanterns at Kenya

The 'Use Solar, Save Lives' program involves the design, production and distribution of Solar Powered Lanterns dubbed "Mwanga Bora" to poor rural households without electricity; and helping communities set up economic ventures from the money initially spent on kerosene. The lanterns are made from scrap metals, using simple technology with no major tools and equipments. The distribution is done through community groups, which uses the lantern and saves part of the money initially, spend on kerosene. 'Use Solar, Save Lives' helps communities set up small economic ventures linking them to micro-finance institutions, which facilitates the expansion of the economic ventures. Later on, they are able to sponsor more lamps from their savings. The targeted communities include the rural poor households, which have no access to electricity and other cleaner sources of energy, youths and women who have no regular source of income to meet their daily livelihood needs.