Obi and Sarah are jumping out of a plane to try and raise money for SolarAid - a very worthwhile cause. If you would like to support but don't want to jump out of a plane too, you can help very simply by donating online.

 

WHAT WE ARE DOING 

We are skydiving to raise money for SolarAid, a British international development charity that promotes the use of solar energy to help reduce global poverty and climate change. SolarAid installs solar photovoltaic systems, for community centres, medical clinics, schools and other communal buildings. It also trains local communities in do-it-yourself solar skills

 

SolarAid’s OBJECTIVES

 

-To relieve poverty through facilitating the provision of solar energy to those in need.

-To advance the education of the public in matters relating to solar energy, climate change, and the protection of the environment

-To carry out and disseminate the results of research into all aspects of energy generation, distribution, supply and use

 

SolarAid’s APPROACH

 

You can read more about Solar Aid here  but we have summarised their two pronged approach to achieving their objective’s below below…

 

Microsolar

 

SolarAid identifies entrepreneurs in developing countries, who it then trains in business planning, market research and solar skills. It helps them set up their solar microbusinesses so that they can build and sell solar lanterns and solar chargers for radios and mobile phones. SolarAid research showed that the average household in a developing country spends between 10-20% of its income on kerosene for lighting, single use batteries for their radios, and charging their mobile phones. Kerosene smoke is toxic, single use batteries are polluting, and mobile phone chargers need access to the electric grid, which most rural areas in developing countries do not have and probably will never have. SolarAid’s solar entrepreneurs convert kerosene lamps into solar lanterns using light emitting diodes (LEDs, which are cheaper, robust and use little energy) and build solar chargers from local materials and imported solar glass.These solar products can then fulfill much of the average household's energy needs, leading to a substantial increase in their income because they no longer need to buy kerosene or batteries. The solar entrepreneurs make money and reinvest their profits into their microbusinesses in order to grow.

SolarAid aims to convert every single kerosene lamp in Africa into a solar lantern.

 

Macrosolar

 

SolarAid’s macrosolar work involves installing larger solar systems in schools, community centres and health clinics. Barely 2% of rural populations in most African countries have access to the grid, forcing them to rely on kerosene, candles, car batteries and firewood for fuel. Schools cannot teach in the evenings; community centres cannot offer services such as educational videos or vocational training; and health clinics cannot power basic medical equipment such as vaccine fridges. Yet a standard 300 watt system installed on the roof of a school, community centre or clinic can solve all these issues.

 

DONATE, DONATE, DONATE !!!

 

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it’s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.

So please dig deep and donate now.