View PDF
Profile
Project
Objective:
The
major objective of this
project is to improve
the lives of those living
in the townships.
Benefits
include the following:
- Reduction of indoor
pollution from the
use of paraffin.
- Reducing the risk
of fire (a common occurrence
in informal settlements)
through the reduced
use of paraffin and
kerosene.
- Extending
life in the townships
beyond sundown. More
activities can be done
at night such as children
having the ability
to read, community
meetings are often
held at night when
there is light, economic
activities like trade
and handicrafts flourish
with the ability to
see the fine needlework
with the light of an
LED system.
What
is more solar lighting
contributes to conservation
of non-renewable energy
resources while reducing
environmental impacts
of it. At the same
time solar lighting
can contribute positively
to livelihood improvement
through employment
and new innovative
activities.
Number
of Systems Required: 500
(microfinance)
Individuals
Benefiting: ~3000
Context/History:
In
2006 the “Magnificent
Seven” Pilot Project
was established. Small
scale microfinance loans
for seven families in
Tembisa in Johannesburg
was administered to cover
the cost of 1 lighting
system. All repayment
was made in 1 year or
less.
In
the spring/summer of
2007, a larger scale
52 home microcredit pilot
project was established
in Johannesburg and Cape
Town. The South African
Federation of the Urban
Poor (FEDUP) was chosen
to carry out the administration,
including collection
of the loans, while Dave
arranged for the delivery
of lighting systems and
trained a representative
in each community to
install and trouble shoot
the systems.
The
community selection was
made by our NGO partner
FEDUP and they have a
large percentage of members
in the chosen communities.
2 settlements in Johannesburg,
Tinasonke and Protea
South (in Soweto), and
2 settlements in Cape
Town, Philippi and Kosovo
were selected to participate.
Communities
normally spend R 15-30
per week (R 7 = US $1)
per family on lighting
(paraffin & candles).
The 52 systems were sold at a cost of R 1,200 each and repayment on the systems
is expected to be completed within a one year period.
Partners:
Confirmation
of FEDUP’s continued
interest in delivering
the microfinance administration
with the expansion of
the project is currently
being assessed.
Establish
in 1991 the organization
FEDUP is associated with
Shack/Slum Dwellers International,
an international network
of federations of the
urban poor who share
ideas and experiences,
and support one another
in gaining access to
adequate land, infrastructure
and housing. One of the
key components of FEDUP’s activities is the formation
of savings and credit groups. They issue a variety of loans including crisis/consumption
and income generation loans. With FEDUP’s system there is no fixed repayment
schedule or instalments, but the only insistence is that there must be a daily
repayment.
Summary:
Light
Up The World’s
long term vision is
to provide a safe,
affordable light source
to people who don’t
have access to electricity. This
project will assist
families living in
the townships by improving
general health and
well being from not
breathing toxic fumes
from the kerosene,
improving education
from the ability to
read after sundown
and creating wealth
through the ability
to stop paying monthly
for kerosene and paraffin.
