SI Winchester has supported Solar Aid since 2021. At that time we also supported the Little Sun Foundation which offers the same solar lighting process. We were privileged to have a zoom meeting with Richard Turner, who has also visited us in the past, and updated us on the latest project which is to ‘Light a Village’. This gives the community a wider buy-in to the system as it can provide lights for clinic, hospitals, retail outlets and village centres, rather than only individual homes. In areas where there is no hope of electricity reaching people this is a major life enhancement and offers economic opportunities for people as well as benefitting the environment. The lamps also have USB ports for charging small appliances and one day TVs.
A committee was formed to manage this project. The team started with fundraising with plans to develop further. The lamps enable young people to study in areas of the world where there is an absence of electricity. We supported two programmes: Solar Aid working in Malawi, and The Little Sun Foundation in Rwanda and Ethiopia. The aim was to enable young people to be able to study at home after dark.
The kerosene lamps they used at this time were dangerous and unhealthy and the light was inconsistent. The solar powered lights give a more constant light and are fuelled by the sun during the day. The lamps are acquired by families through SunnyMoney, a facility by which they pay for/rent the lamp over a period of time at a reduced rate until it finally becomes theirs. This provides an investment so they become more involved with the whole process, if the lamp needs repair then this can be done locally through the representative in the area.
The fundraising method used was to hold an afternoon tea in one of the member’s gardens thus avoiding venue hire. Much of the food was prepared by members and guests were invited to buy a ticket, attend and participate in the raffle and the produce stand. Over the years since 2021 there has been a tea ever since and the most recent was in July 2025.
The first two teas raised a total of total of £1000. The funds divided between the two charities, providing approx.
225 Solar lights reaching 1348 people saving those families £39,800 over 5 years.
Since 2023 the club has raised £1500 and July 2025 raised a further £500which will be sent towards the ‘Light a Village’ campaign.
We are one of many small charities who support Solar Aid and Richard says. ‘…without the support of charities like the Soroptimists and similar it would be difficult to reach out to these places..’. The future of the solar lamp is secured and he was pleased to report that in 2025 more than 8,813 homes had been reached.
As a result clinics are safer, education results are increasing and the Malawi Government has bought into this technology. The Director of Electricity at the Ministry of Energy says, ‘We are aligned and glad to be part of this learning project’. Advocacy at work.
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