Chipande wants a source of reliable, green energy to charge devices.

Community Problem: While many families own mobile phones and other handheld electronic devices, finding ways to charge them is a struggle. It is expensive and time consuming to travel to the nearest village connected to the grid and personal solar systems are prohibitively expensive.

Community Solution: Build a community solar charging station in Chipande. The charging station will have eight 375-watt panels and 100 USB ports, allowing it to charge 100 phones at a time. The station will be installed by Kumudzi Kuwale (Village Light), a Malawian renewable power company. This company will also provide around 100 rechargeable solar lanterns that Chipande will distribute to community members for household use. On a weekly basis, community members will pay to recharge the lanterns at the charging station. Chipande will save proceeds from the solar station to finance future community projects.

Partners: generous donors and Chipande Village

Outcome: green energy for decades to come