Rosie May Foundation - One Light One Child

Imagine a world without light, in which children can't do their homework because they have no electricity to see...

About One Light One Child:
 
Since 2016, we have distributed over 500 solar lights to children living without electricity across rural Nepal. The lights help children to see to do their homework at night, keeping them safe from the dangers of open fires.

As unimaginable as it seems, energy poverty is the reality for many children living in rural Nepal. In the village of Mangri, there is no electricity, and children live two days walk from the nearest motor road!

Working in partnership with SAHAS Nepal, Solmates Australia and schools from around the world, we are providing solar lights to some of the world’s most isolated children. The solar lights are provided by Solmates, an organisation dedicated to providing affordable lighting solutions to people living off electricity grids. With the help of children in schools in the UK, Australia, Singapore and China, students get to help directly by learning how to assemble a solar light for a child in Nepal.
 
Why is One Light One Child Needed:
 
47% of Nepalis have no access to electricity (Energypedia)
Only 8% of those living in rural Nepal have access to electricity (Energypedia)

78% of Nepali households are solely reliant on solid biomass fuels for cooking and heating purposes (National Life Standards Survey-Nepal 2011/2012)

Nepal’s electricity demand has more than doubled between 2005 and 2014 with supply not keeping up with demand (Nepal Electricity Authority).


The project aims to:
 
Educate: Support isolated children in rural areas with advanced technology so they can continue their studies at home after school.
 
Improving Health: Reduce the risk of indoor air pollution through the burning of biomass fuels and effectively deploy solar lights to those children most at risk.
 
Enable an understanding of the risks faced by children in isolated communities and to create awareness by connecting children in the Global North to those in the Global South.
 
One Light One Child fits the United Nations convention on the rights of the child, within the following articles: 

Article 3 - Best interests of the child 

Article 6 - The right to life

Article 9 - Right to a family life 

Article 27 - An adequate standard of living

Article 29 - The right to a quality education


What next for One Light, One Child?

All proceeds go to the purchase of the light and transportation costs. There are no overheads or charity costs involved. Photographs will be taken of each child receiving their light and sent to us by SAHAS NEPAL  so that students can see exactly who receives their light.