Solar Aid Moment of Sunshine Appeal Update

Date: 13/08/2020

In April 2020, NextEnergy Foundation (NEF) donated £20,000 to SolarAid’s Moment of Sunshine Appeal, which was launched as an emergency fund to respond to Covid-19 in Zambia and Malawi. £7,000 were directed towards efforts in Zambia, and the remaining £13,000 were used to kick-off efforts in Malawi.

In partnership with the Zimbabwean and Malawian Ministries of Health, SolarAid carried out three key areas of work through the fund:

1. Donated and distributed solar products to rural health clinics and quarantine sites;
2. Disseminated crucial health information to rural communities; and,
3. Developed further support initiatives for rural clinics

So far in Zambia, NEF’s donation has contributed to reaching rural clinics, and quarantine sites across 10 provinces with 3,726 solar products, including solar home systems, solar torches, and portable solar lights. Instead in Malawi, the donation helped SolarAid install 500 solar home systems across eight rural health facilities, and 200 solar light radios, which enabled healthcare workers to receive up-to-date information about the virus and the Ministry of Health’s guidelines.