Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF)'s photostream  

At the Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) our mission is to provide solar power and wireless communications to a quarter of the world’s population living in energy poverty.

Seventy percent of people in the developing world still have no access to electricity in their homes, health clinics or schools. Without power, they are condemned to life on the margins. Women and children—mostly girls—spend hours each day hauling water to meet their family’s needs, preventing the girls from attending school. Dangerous kerosene lamps and candles are used for home lighting, causing lung disease and respiratory illness. Health clinics have no means to refrigerate vaccines, increasing the rate of infectious diseases. The children who are fortunate enough to attend school are still limited by chalkboard learning; no books, workbooks or photocopies, let alone computers and Internet; broadening the digital divide between the information haves and have-nots. Acting as a catalyst, SELF provides sustainable energy systems to empower these people to change their lives.

With the generous support of our donors, SELF gives people in developing countries a hand up, not a handout, through innovative uses of solar energy. SELF’s projects help villagers lift themselves out of poverty by addressing vital needs including clean, safe water; food security; vaccine refrigeration; adequate healthcare; school and home lighting; and income-generating microenterprise. SELF’s wireless Internet installations also create distance learning opportunities, giving hope of advancement to the next generation and providing health care workers with access to modern medical knowledge, research and diagnostics.

Having opportunities at home in rural villages stems the migration to urban mega-slums and strengthens rural communities by keeping families whole and preventing talent drain.

SELF believes that energy is a human right. To meet global challenges such as food and water scarcity, climate change and poverty, SELF is working to assign greater priority to the importance of sustainable energy among international development banks, aid agencies, foundations, and philanthropic individuals, who are committed to improving the health, education, and economic prospects of the world’s poorest citizens.