The Challenge
- One quarter of the world’s population live without grid-connected electricity.
- The World Bank estimates that 780 million women and children are breathing toxin-laden kerosene fumes, which is the equivalent of smoking two packets of cigarettes per day.
- Kerosene lighting costs up to one third of the household income in many developing countries.
- Kerosene lamps are the leading cause of household fires in developing countries.
- Kerosene emits 2.76 kilograms of carbon dioxide per litre burned.
The Vision
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Our vision is to distribute solar lights to people without electricity around the world, to help improve their lives, reduce risk of burns and help kids have a way to do home work at night, and to work with Rotarians, Rotary Clubs, Friends of Rotary and the Community to share the light.
- New Dimension – Provide lights to the half billion people that don’t have any lights at all.
- Reduce Poverty – Replace existing kerosene lamps which reduces costs dramatically.
- Increase Health – Reduce the harmful effect of the fumes from kerosene.
- Reduce Fire Hazards – Reduce fire hazard in the home.
- Enable Students – Provide the opportunity for study at night.
- Educate People – In business processes
- Empower Women – By creating greater gender equality and opportunities for women.
- Empower Communities – By enabling them to run their own Micro- Businesses.
- Low Cost – $15 per light (plus freight).
- Cost Neutral to Rotary Clubs
The Lights
We offer a unique, affordable, lightweight & robust solar lights that are easy to use.
They provide 8 hours of light per charge.
Each light has two brightness settings and they can be clipped together in a panel when the lighting requirement is greater.
Light Specifications:
- Dimensions: 9x9x2.5 cm, 140gms packaged
- 3000 lights shipped per cubic metre
- 6 LEDs produce 16 lumens; 12 LEDs produce 32 lumens
- Robust triple function push button (off, half light & full light)
- Replaceable batteries
- Strong clip-together system to form a panel of lights
- Lifespan – 2 years
- Eight hours in sunlight will produce eight hours of light
Current Projects
- RSL sells the lights to other Rotary Clubs, and they work with their own projects
- Rotary Clubs take the lights and supply them to areas and countries of need.
- It is a wonderful and rewarding to see the success of the lights around the world, as we work together
History
Rotary Solar Lights is a project of The Rotary Club of Sutherland (District 9675, NSW).
It is registered with RAWCS – Rotary Australia World Community Service.
RAWCS PROJECT 36/2011-12.
The innovator behind the project was the late Graeme Boler, a Rotarian with a Paul Harris Fellow + Sapphire recognition.Graeme was passionate and he was determined to provide an environmentally friendly product at low cost to help disadvantaged people around the world.
We have a dedicated team running the project.
Pam and Karen (family of late Graeme Boler, both members of The Rotary Club of Sutherland), and other Rotarians from various Rotary clubs
The Challenge
Read about the hardships faced by a significant number of people living in the modern world without the benefit of electricity.
Contact Us
Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the ongoing Rotary Solar Lights Project.