Solar Lamp
In some third world countries, when the sun goes down, there is no light for the people. If there is, it is usually a kerosine lamp that burn indoors. The light is useful, but some claim that one night of breathing in the fumes is the same as smoking 40 cigarettes. And to top it off, 20% of a family’s income every week pays for the fuel.
The folks at LEDsafari are doing some great work using a very simple method. They use a cell phone battery with the electronics removed, an LED, a switch and a small solar cell to build a low cost solar lamp.
Little by little their method is getting a bit more sophisticated. LEDsafari is now adding a diode to keep the battery from sending power to the solar cell and burning it up. Also, a resistor is added to limit the current the battery delivers to the LED so it lasts longer. Total cost is about $2.00.
There are some simple ways to improve upon these methods. But for now, this project has been a blessing for thousands of people. Without LEDsafari’s solar lamp program, many would be sitting in the dark or spending money just to breath unhealthy fumes. This just shows that something so small and simple really can make a huge difference in people’s lives!
Saving Money, Reducing Fuel & Increasing Health
The income savings and health benefits are obviously priceless. It is important to understand this isn’t a hand-out. LEDsafari holds workshops to teach people how to empower themselves by learning how to build their own solar lamp! Just look how happy those kids are in the picture up above. This is not just a technical skill, but a way to increase their self-esteem and build confidence in the fact that they can help themselves.
Support this project by telling your friends, sharing this page and visiting: LEDsafari
