The Gift of Light initiative is a public engagement campaign which provides an opportunity for the public to donate any amount towards a Philips solar innovation.
"There's a huge need for alternatives to assist people living in impoverished off-grid areas. While a simple solar lamp might not mean much to those with electricity, to a family living off the grid, it means more family time, more study time and more time to play safely," said Christoph Castellaz, Philips Africa head of strategy and new business development in Africa. "We are not only committed to developing innovative solutions to assist these families, but will also match any donations to ensure the difference made is significant."
The Gift of Light website allows donors to choose from a range of Philips solar solutions. The range includes easy to use Philips solar lights which was handed over to the Arekopaneng Community Centre's beneficiaries. Its battery is recharged by placing the solar panel in the sun during the day, allowing the solar lamps to provide light that is ten times brighter than a kerosene lamp. Beneficiaries also received Philips cook stoves, which provide a safe and economical way to prepare meals.
Specifically developed for semi-urban and rural communities, the fan-driven cook stove has the lowest smoke emissions of any stove on the market and can reduce smoke and carbon monoxide emissions by more than 90% compared to an open fire, significantly reducing the health risks of indoor cooking. The cook stove also uses a special fan-driven technology to cook faster, boiling five litres of water in 20 minutes. By cooking faster, the cook stove reduces the cost of fuel compared to wood burning stoves.
"In our communities, many families rely on the flickering light of a candle or kerosene lamp, which is far from safe and pose serious health risks. We are proud of our partnership with Philips Africa and we look forward to seeing how it will open up a new world of opportunities and change the lives of the community's beneficiaries," said Onyi Nwaneri, head of development, marketing and communications at Afrika Tikkun.
