I have visited enough traditional family huts and homes in rural Africa to know that light and power are precious commodities. When the last bit of sun streams through the windows and doors in the evenings, the only recourse for light again is when the sun shines brightly in the morning. That is a long time to read, write, cook, and get ready for the next day by mere firelight. When not fixed on an electrical grid (which aren’t very reliable themselves), the only real, viable opportunity for light and energy is through solar power.

A newly released short film by BioLite Run Home shows how powerful their products are to light households in the absence of electricity.  In fact, BioLite is on a mission to “bring energy everywhere”. In the film, BioLite features professional Kenyan marathon runner and mother Jane Kibii. Through her race earnings, Kibii has earned enough money to purchase a family home. Unfortunately, the home she built for her parents is far from the electrical grid.

BioLite stepped in to provide solar powered light to the the Kibii home. Using their BioLite SolarHome 620 product that includes a solar panel that captures daily sun to charge up a central control box which powers 3 hanging lights, USB charge-out, and an MP3/FM radio system, the Kibii home was fully powered. It’s pretty remarkable how an entire off-grid home can be powered so inexpensively these days.

GIVE BACK

The SolarHome 620 product costs under $120. With your purchase you help BioLite help those who don’t have power at all. In Western Kenya, over 40,000 homes use the BioLite SolarHome 620 in a pay-as-you-go model.

Through the film you can see what a difference the SolarHome 620 made in the lives of Kibii’s family. In addition to light, they all now have the ability to charge their phones in their home as opposed to taking their phones to the nearest town. This is of most importance to Jane Kibii because when she is all over the globe running races she wants to be able to connect with her daughter back home.

To see more about BioLite’s mission visit them at www.bioliteenergy.com/pages/mission. Also, read their 2017 Impact Report where they highlight their efforts in emerging markets.