As a chaplain living in a school community, I’m no stranger to the shared frustrations of power outages. When the lights go out, so do our connections—to the internet, to entertainment, and even to one another. Social groups buzz with complaints about how terrible the situation is and how “someone should do something about it.”
One day, I decided that someone would be me.
Armed with little more than curiosity and a desire to find a solution, I ventured into our local town. Could I cobble together a system that could keep essential devices running during the average outage? With duct tape, sticky back plastic, and a bit of ingenuity, I built a prototype. To my surprise, it worked. Not only did it power a small TV, an internet router, and a low-powered lamp, but it also had enough charge left after two episodes of Gavin and Stacey to keep going.
Encouraged by this small success, I decided to share what I’d learned. I made a video explaining how others could build their own simple solar solutions https://youtu.be/erbsul9dyCU and listed my system for sale—just at the cost of the parts.
That’s when Nick knocked on my door.
Nick wasn’t there to complain. He was there to buy the system. Curious, I asked him why he wanted it. His answer stopped me in my tracks. Nick’s home had no electricity. His daughter needed to charge her devices for school, but most of his income went toward keeping his children in school and supporting his family’s basic needs. He couldn’t afford the system I’d built—not even at cost.
In that moment, I couldn’t bring myself to sell it to him. Instead, I decided to build him a system for free. Seeing Nick’s gratitude was one of the most rewarding moments of my life. But it also opened my eyes to a bigger problem. https://youtu.be/O-fgQtF_Vmk
Nick isn’t alone. Millions of people across Kenya live without reliable access to power. Yet the items needed to create small, affordable solar systems are readily available in local markets. The solutions exist—what’s missing is access and know-how.
A Vision for Change
That’s when inspiration struck. What if we could do more? What if we could build simple, effective solar systems and provide them to families who need them most? Systems that could power a lamp so children could study at night, charge a phone to stay connected, or keep a fridge running to preserve food? These aren’t luxuries; they’re essentials for education, health, and economic opportunity.
This vision has now become a mission. With each system I build, I’m reminded that small solutions can create big impacts. By harnessing local resources and a bit of creativity, we can bring light and power to communities in need.
But I can’t do it alone. This is a call to action. Whether you’re skilled at tinkering, willing to donate parts, or simply passionate about making a difference, you can join me in this mission. Together, we can provide reliable power to families like Nick’s, one system at a time.
How You Can Help
- Build Your Own System: Start small. Use locally available parts to create a system that meets basic needs. Share your knowledge with others.
- Donate or Sponsor a System: For just a few thousand shillings, you can sponsor a solar system for a family in need. Every contribution brings us closer to a brighter future.
- Spread the Word: Share this story. Tell others about the simple solutions that can change lives. The more people who know, the greater the impact we can have.
Nick’s story isn’t unique, but it is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we choose to act. Together, we can light up lives and empower communities—one solar system at a time.
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