We Share Solar’s in-country partners aid in site selection, distribution management, systems installations, user training, and technical support. These partners include:
+254 Solar Energy CBO, Kibera, KENYA
A youth-led community organization in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Africa’s largest urban slum, +254 Solar Energy CBO works toward a cleaner environment and sanitation for all. In 2013, We Share Solar trained the first team of +254 Solar Energy CBO youth in Solar Suitcase installation. To date, they have led the community sourcing, selection, and installation of over 100 Solar Suitcases in rural regions across Kenya.
Brian Inganga (far right), the founder of +254 Solar Energy CBO, serves as our
Kenyan project coordinator and lead visual storyteller. His evocative photographs reveal the joy and importance of our work.
ALIGHT: Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief , UGANDA
Alight is a family of organizations that works closely with refugees, trafficked persons, and economic migrants, to co-design solutions that help them build full and fulfilling lives. Together we are bringing Solar Suitcases to schools in Western Uganda and improving the lives of youth in resource poor areas. With a partnership formed in 2021, Alight Uganda and We Share Solar are working together to bring light to schools and youth-serving centers that lack access to electricity in Rwamwanja Refugee Settlement.
Kabale University and Community Solar Suitcase Team, Kabale, UGANDA
An early and foundational partner, Kabale University has been working with We Share Solar since 2013. Upon learning of the Solar Suitcase, a group of community members recognized it as a way to serve the full range of Uganda’s youth, creating career opportunities in solar energy for local university students while simultaneously providing light and power to the nation’s younger students. Together, Kabale University and We Share Solar have placed 37 Solar Suitcases throughout Uganda.
Kia Kotahi Ako Trust, NEW ZEALAND
Kia Kotahi Ako (Learning As One) is an alliance of Edmund Hillary Fellows, activating education initiatives that will have the biggest impact for Papatūānuku (mother earth). They bring a Contributive Learning Framework to supporting schools, educators, and communities to enable learning and well-being for all. Kia Kotahi Ako partnered with We Share Solar to manage the development and implementation of a Solar Suitcase program for Maori, Samoan, and Tongan youth in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Remote Energy
Remote Energy is committed to providing access to education and clean energy to under-served communities worldwide. We Share Solar and Remote Energy have collaborated over several years to offer solar training workshops and develop curriculum for teachers, technicians, and high school students in the United States, Kenya, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. www.remoteenergy.org
Resilience Action, Kakuma, KENYA
Resilience Action, a refugee created and led community organization operating within the camp, empowers the refugee youth to fulfill their potential and enables them to transform their lives. They identify schools and youth-serving organizations in need of energy access and coordinate the installation of Solar Suitcases. The Solar Suitcas installations are overseen by our trained partners from Change Mtaani in Kibera and assisted by refugee apprentices.
Stiftung Solarenergie, PHILIPPINES
Stiftung Solarenergie (StS), Philippines, is part of the worldwide Solar Federation network of social businesses working to achieve the goal of sustainable energy access for all. We Share Solar has partnered with StS in its “Light for Education” initiative since 2015 under the leadership of Jim Ayala. Stiftung’s dedicated team often treks for hours by foot, horse, boat, or motorcycle to access the most remote village schools in need of electricity. To date, StS and We Share Solar have installed over 80 Solar Suitcases in remote schools throughout the Philippines.
Women in Sustainable Energy and Entrepreneurship (WISEE), Nairobi, KENYA
WISEE is on a mission to build a workforce of professional and technical women to work in the rapidly growing solar energy field. In addition to training women in solar design, installation, and operation, WISEE works to extend energy access in communities across Eastern Africa. In 2016, WISEE completed its first We Share Solar installation of ten Solar Suitcases at children’s homes in Kajiado, West District.
