News: November 2009 Archives

SolarAid is proud to welcome Cherie Blair as patron as we team up with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women to train our growing network of women solar entrepreneurs in East Africa.

The Foundation is supporting SolarAid's successful micro-franchise model Sunny Money, which has been developed to reach millions of people quickly and effectively. The programme will focus on increasing economic opportunities for women in Western Kenya and Northern Malawi. The projects provide employment opportunities for women franchisees, offering tailor-made training, support, marketing and access to solar materials.

Mrs Blair said: Women are often excluded from the formal labour market, from access to resources such as adequate financial services, land or simply from making their own choices. I support organisations that focus not only on poverty alleviation but on wealth creation by enhancing women's business skills, networks and access to financing.

Indeed, women in Kenya and Malawi continue to enjoy less opportunities, benefits, treatment and remuneration compared to their male counterparts. Women entrepreneurs are often prevented from running competitive businesses by their relatively low education and skill levels, which limit their access to the various support services.

SolarAid Executive Director Nick Sireau said: We're extremely pleased that Mrs Blair is joining the SolarAid team as patron. She brings a commitment to the cause of women entrepreneurs and a level of support that is exceptional.

Cherie Blair meeting women entrepreneurs in Kenya. April 2009.

The Cherie Blair Foundation for Women strengthens the capacity of women entrepreneurs in countries where they lack equal opportunities so they can start and grow their businesses. The Foundation accomplishes this by working with local partners to provide women with access to business development, networks and finances.

For more information, go to: www.cherieblairfoundation.org

SolarAid is thrilled to announce that from today, Friday 27 November, it will be featured in The Times newspaper as part of the Christmas Charity Appeal.

Over the next 6 weeks, SolarAid's work will be featured in a number of stories and images by Times writers and photographers who have recently visited our programmes in Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi.

You can follow these articles online at: www.timesonline.co.uk

You can also follow The Times Appeal on Twitter.

A loyal supporter, campaigner and volunteer of SolarAid's - Gwyn Roberts - has just won the Environmentalist of the Year award at the Archant London Environment Awards.

Everyone at SolarAid would like to congratulate Gwyn and also thank him for all the support, enthusism and passion he has shown for SolarAid over the last three years. Please sponsor Gwyn and support SolarAid at the same time by clicking here: www.justgiving.com/overlandinthesun/

You can also read about Gwyn's trip on his website or on Facebook or Twitter.

The Big Chill record label are releasing a downloadable album called Busking for SolarAid which features the artists that played on the SolarAid Buskers' Stage at The Big Chill festival this summer.

Last night saw the first of three events in the next two weeks in London to launch the celebrate the launch of the album! Featuring last night were acoustic performances by Oystar, Doppler Shift and Seeker.

Busking for SolarAid features Fran and Josh , Aleister Kelman, Nimmo & the Gauntletts, Dr Butler's Hatstand Medicine Band, Catrina Davies, James Tarling / Big Toe, Charlie and the Martyrs, Emily White, Archipelago, Marcina Arnold and more. 50% of the profits from the album, will go directly to SolarAid.

The next two launch events are on 25 and 28 November. For more info about these, please visit the Big Chill Label website..

SolarAid has been nominated for two more awards. This time, for the Archant London Environment Awards. The categories are for: Best Small Environmental Business and Environmentalist of the Year.

Our nominee for Environmentalist of the Year is Gwyn Roberts. Gwyn, who is currently in Egypt, is on his way from London to Cape Town overland in a part solar-powered vehicle, raising money and profile for SolarAid on his way.

Gwyn's vehicle which is powered, in part, by solar photovoltaic panels.

You can read about Gwyn's trip on his website or on Facebook or Twitter.

The winner of both these awards will be announced at a ceremony on Friday 20 Nov so watch this space!

Following weeks of preparations, we're just about to launch our macrosolar programme which will see us bring solar systems to schools across rural Kenya.

A special thank you has to go out to our franchisee Romonah who is particularly keen to see solar systems reach rural schools. Romonah has compiled a list of all the primary and secondary schools in her district (over 70 schools!). This list will enable us to contact the schools and invite them to apply for a solar system. So watch this space in the coming months as more and more schools turn on the lights!

For more up to date news from the field in Kenya, visit our Kenya blog.