Plan International, SkyPower to distribute 2 million home solar kits in rural Kenya

Child rights organization Plan International has joined hands with SkyPower to distribute SkyPower Home solar kits to energy poor households, schools and health clinics in rural Kenya, providing triple benefits in terms of education, health and protection.

This five-year initiative, which will see two million SkyPower Home solar kits distributed, is set to make a transformative contribution to renewable energy for some of the poorest households in Kenya.

Plan International has extensive experience in the large-scale distribution of gifts-in-kind across Sub-Saharan Africa. Using a phased approach over the next five years, the distribution will focus on regions with low electricity and high poverty rates.

Careful targeting of communities will be done to ensure that the ultra-poor and poor receive these kits, rather than those who can afford to purchase solar energy on their own.

“Plan International is proud to announce this landmark partnership with SkyPower. It couldn’t come at a more pertinent time as important moves are made to address climate change,” said Anne-Birgitte Albrectsen, CEO of Plan International.

Working through rural primary schools, local School Management Committees and traditional leaders, Plan International staff and volunteers will work together to manage distribution, storage and outreach to individual households.

Solar management and monitoring teams will also be created — comprised of youth from the local community — and they will speak to their neighbours about how the solar kits are working, and undertake any maintenance or repairs or hot swap that may be needed.

Members of the community will be able to alert the solar management and monitoring teams that their kits are in need of repair through SMS, ensuring timely service.

“Plan International has worked in Kenya for over 33 years and our work supports over 800,000 families. This project will contribute towards ensuring the safe delivery of infants in clinics, that boys and girls succeed in school, women and girls are more protected and climate change is addressed,” continued Albrectsen. “Triple positive impacts will be felt in education, health and protection, in line with Sustainable Development Goals 3, 4 and 7.”

Three-quarters of households in Kenya use kerosene for lighting — a proven health risk, especially for infants.

SkyPower solar kits will be provided to schools currently lacking access to electricity, while home solar kits mean children can complete their homework and continue their studies after dark. Teachers will also be able to prepare their lessons for the next day.

“SkyPower is proud to support Kenya’s leadership’s vision for a sustainable and prosperous society based on modern, green solar energy for all,” said Kerry Adler, SkyPower’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “Our partnership with Plan International to distribute two million SkyPower Home solar kits to the people of Kenya aligns with SkyPower’s mandate of working with the best partners for the purpose of energizing communities around the world by providing them with access to safe, affordable and reliable solar electricity.”

In addition, radio messages supporting education and alerting people to improved lighting conditions at their local health centre will be broadcast, while people will be able to receive these messages through their solar-powered radios. Young people will also be trained to provide solar kit repair services in their communities.