Education Dominican Republic Project #51803

Give the gift of light & help educate children

by SolarBuddy Inc

Project Report | Jun 26, 2025
Stories from the Field Jun 2025

By Elly Harris | In-Country Impact Manager

Providing energy access in Burkina Faso

In this report, we're shining a light on inspiring partnerships that bring impact across 3 corners of the globe. From Burkina Faso to Papua New Guinea and Sri Lanka, your support is helping ensure more communities have access to energy.

We hope these stories leave you as inspired as we are.

Happy reading!

Removing barriers to education in Burkina Faso

In late November 2024, a shipment of JuniorBuddies left our European warehouse, travelling by sea to Accra, Ghana and then overland to Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso.

Burkina Faso is a landlocked country in West Africa, which presented some logistical challenges, but the JuniorBuddies are now in the hands of Tien’Hamma (our distribution partner in Burkina Faso) who have begun distributing to communities. About 4 in 5 people in Burkina Faso cannot access electricity*.

We first connected with Tien’Hamma through the Co-Founder Larba Nadieba, originally from Burkina Faso. After speaking at an event in Germany, Larba took part in SolarBuddy LIVE’s Hour of Power, assembling a JuniorBuddy. This is a powerful reminder of how one moment can spark greater impact.

Tien’Hamma is a non-profit organisation dedicated to removing barriers to education and ensuring all children have equal opportunities, regardless of their background and circumstances.

With Tien’Hamma leading the way, access to light will no longer be a barrier to students’ education in Burkina Faso.

*Burkina Faso | Tracking SDG 7. (2022). Esmap.org. https://trackingsdg7.esmap.org/country/burkina-faso

Distributions across Sri Lanka

A community in Kandy has already received JuniorBuddy devices, and the Anduren Eliyata team have been powering ahead with distributions across more regions in Sri Lanka, including:

Buttala
Delft Island
Mahiyanganaya
Nuwara Eliya District
Trincomalee
Udumulla

Working together to power classrooms in Papua New Guinea

Powered by collaborative partnerships, students and educators across the Gulf and Western Provinces of Papua New Guinea are strengthening their classrooms with learning resources, like solar devices, books, furniture and uniforms, in regions where basic education infrastructure is limited.

This was made possible through the efforts of our distribution partner, Project Yumi, who teamed up with Books4PNGKids, working with schools to provide resources they identified as most valuable.

Distribution Updates

Across May

3,100 solutions left our United States warehouse to El Salvador
2,097 solutions left our Australian warehouse to Vietnam, Uganda and Papua New Guinea
300 solutions assembled through a team-building event in Vietnam, to be distributed in Vietnam

I’m endlessly inspired by the incredible support from our community. Together, we’re not just lighting the way for children around the world—we’re empowering them to dream, learn, and build brighter futures.

Thank you for being such an essential part of this journey.

Elly Harris
In-Country Impact Manager

Letters received with the JuniorBuddy devices

A StudentBuddy being put to great use in Sri Lanka

Light for education in Papua New Guinea

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Mar 7, 2025
Stories from the Field Q1 2025

By Elly Harris | In-Country Impact Manager

EARTH DAY 2025 - Our Power Our Planet

Stories from the Field

In this update, see how a festival in Grenada raised awareness, explore an interactive map tracking solar device distribution in Indonesia, and learn about our new partnership bringing solar lights to students in the Philippines, Laos and Vietnam.

Keep reading to see how these initiatives are making a difference!

Energy Poverty Awareness Takes Centre Stage in Grenada

We love it when partnerships spark greater impact!

The Lena Marshall Foundation recently hosted the African Caribbean Fair in Grenada, bringing together local businesses, artisans, and musicians in a vibrant celebration of community and culture – all while raising awareness about energy poverty.

This incredible event helped spark conversations about the impact of energy poverty and the importance of energy access.

Meanwhile, as part of our partnership, solar devices are now on their way to Liberia and Sierra Leone, thanks to SolarBuddy LIVE programs assembling devices across the United Kingdom and Europe!

Hear from Lena herself and see the event in action on the link below

Earth Day is Around the Corner

Mark your calendars!

April 22 is Earth Day with the theme ‘Our Power. Our Planet’. The day is all about harnessing clean energy to create a more sustainable world.

How can you be part of Earth Day?

A donation can help equip someone with a solar device, supporting them to continue their work, learning, and connection after the sun sets.

Sharing the Light: Our New Partnership with Good Neighbours

We’re excited to announce our new partnership with Good Neighbours Australia, working together to tackle energy poverty and support students in the Philippines, Vietnam, and Laos.

Through this partnership, 6,000 SolarBuddy devices will be distributed in 2025, including 3,000 for students on the remote island of Tingloy, Philippines, where children currently rely on kerosene lamps to study at night. By providing clean, reliable lighting, we’re ensuring that students can learn, grow, and dream big—without the limitations of darkness.

Fair Future Foundation Mapping a Brighter Future

Our partner, Fair Future Foundation, has mapped out where these devices will be distributed in East Sumba, Indonesia, ensuring children can study safely at night and reduce their reliance on toxic kerosene lamps.

Each marker represents a school lacking electricity.

Yellow markers = schools where children will receive a SolarBuddy device

But it also tells another story: more than 110 schools and villages remain in darkness, leaving over 10,000 children and families without safe, reliable lighting.

This is more than just a map—it’s a call to action.

Thank you for being such an essential part of this journey.

Elly Harris
In-Country Impact Manager

Fair Future Foundation distributing JuniorBuddies

Links:

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Nov 7, 2024
Stories from the Field November 2024

By Simon Doble | Founder and Chair

Stories from the Field

This month, we’re excited to share a powerful story from Zimbabwe, and updates from the Solomon Islands and The Gambia!

Discover how StudentBuddy devices support childbirth, see JuniorBuddies bringing light to young learners, and get a peek behind the scenes at the final stages of our distribution journey. Dive in to see the incredible impact our partners are making worldwide!

A Bright Beginning: Welcoming a Baby Boy with Solar-powered Care

In a previous update, we shared how our StudentBuddy solar devices arrived in Zimbabwe to support our partners, Regain 37 and ZimbosAbantu Healthcare on Wheels. These devices were included in birthing kits to assist pregnant mothers and midwives during deliveries in remote areas.

We’re thrilled to share some heartwarming news.

In the early hours of October 15th, a baby boy was safely delivered at a solar-powered clinic in Ushewokunze, a settlement on the outskirts of Harare. Tawanda, the founder of our partner organisation, described that Ushewokunze is far frompublic hospitals, which are often closed outside normal hours, making healthcare access challenging – especially in the case of an emergency.

Access to healthcare is a human right. Through mobile clinics, our partners are redefining access to public health delivery in Zimbabwe. Thank you to theZimbosAbantu and Regain37 team and healthcare professionals who provided this mother and newborn critical support in this life-changing moment.

Solomon Islands Update

An update from the Save the Children team in the Solomon Islands!

The team has been distributing JuniorBuddies across the Naro, Kusika and Vutu communities on Guadalcanal.

JuniorBuddies' Journey in The Gambia

Each distribution is a collaborative effort that ensures every child receives their solar-powered light with care and attention.

Here is a behind-the-scenes look at a JuniorBuddy distribution in The Gambia, and how they come together.

The last mile distribution journey begins after the lights arrive in-country and clear customs. From there, we ensure that each JuniorBuddy passes a thorough quality control check before pairing it with a special letter for the child who will receive it. Once everything is ready, the lights are transported to the distribution location, where our partners teach the children how to use and maintain their new solar-powered companions.

These incredible moments wouldn’t be possible without our in-country partners like ChildFund and Books for Africa, who help make every step of the journey a success.

Thanks to their partnership, more children now have a reliable source of light to study, illuminating paths to education and opportunity.

We are endlessly appreciative of the support provided by our donors and advocates around the world. Thank you all for working alongside us to illuminate the lives of children to empower their futures.

Simon Doble
Founder and Chair

Soloman Islands

The team in The Gambia doing quality control check

Team in The Gambia distributing JuniorBuddies

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