Solar Lanterns for Children
Donation protected
Hello! My name is Darin Khan and I am the founder and president of Light for the Night, that initially started as a club at The Lawrenceville School in New Jersey. Since then, Light for the Night has expanded to become a non-profit with two new chapters in Canada and India. Our website is http://www.light-for-the-night.org .
Light for the Night is a nonprofit dedicated to helping children in developing countries who are living without electricity. So far, we have donated 1025 solar lanterns in Indian villages, Syrian refugee camps in Jordan, and in hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico. We also raise awareness about the many problems these children face each day.
According to the World Energy Outlook, about 1.1 billion people live without electricity, including over 15 million refugees – of which 7.5 million are refugee children (UNHCR). Without electricity, the safety and security of these kids is at risk. Activities like going to the toilet (which are outdoors) or collecting water after dusk become dangerous and difficult for children. Many kids are bitten by snakes and rats in the dark. Moreover, since most children support their families by working after school, they cannot complete their homework during the day. With no light after sunset, children are unable to do homework in the dark, contributing to high dropout rates from schools.
The commonly used alternatives for light - kerosene lamps and open fires – are extremely hazardous, producing toxic gases such as carbon monoxide which cause respiratory and environmental problems. According to the World Bank, kerosene fumes are as dangerous as smoking 2 packs of cigarettes each day. Kerosene lamps and open fires are also dangerous as they can cause fires, explosions, and burn injuries from spillover. Solar lanterns make clean energy available in remote areas – thereby decreasing pollution and other health risks of the traditional alternatives.
By providing solar lanterns, we hope to alleviate these problems. Solar lanterns allow children to do homework in the night, helping them to be more successful in their school. This generates a compounding effect in the upward social mobility for these children, and thus benefits society in general. Solar lanterns also provide access to clean and sustainable energy.
With your donation, Light for the Night will buy solar lanterns to donate to children in developing countries. The average cost for a solar lantern about $9 (different lanterns are used in different areas of the world). To reduce shipping costs, where ever possible our nonprofit buys solar lanterns in the country in which we are donating solar lanterns to. At the end of each year, we research which areas to donate the lanterns.
Light for the Night is a nonprofit dedicated to helping children in developing countries who are living without electricity. So far, we have donated 1025 solar lanterns in Indian villages, Syrian refugee camps in Jordan, and in hurricane-devastated Puerto Rico. We also raise awareness about the many problems these children face each day.
According to the World Energy Outlook, about 1.1 billion people live without electricity, including over 15 million refugees – of which 7.5 million are refugee children (UNHCR). Without electricity, the safety and security of these kids is at risk. Activities like going to the toilet (which are outdoors) or collecting water after dusk become dangerous and difficult for children. Many kids are bitten by snakes and rats in the dark. Moreover, since most children support their families by working after school, they cannot complete their homework during the day. With no light after sunset, children are unable to do homework in the dark, contributing to high dropout rates from schools.
The commonly used alternatives for light - kerosene lamps and open fires – are extremely hazardous, producing toxic gases such as carbon monoxide which cause respiratory and environmental problems. According to the World Bank, kerosene fumes are as dangerous as smoking 2 packs of cigarettes each day. Kerosene lamps and open fires are also dangerous as they can cause fires, explosions, and burn injuries from spillover. Solar lanterns make clean energy available in remote areas – thereby decreasing pollution and other health risks of the traditional alternatives.
By providing solar lanterns, we hope to alleviate these problems. Solar lanterns allow children to do homework in the night, helping them to be more successful in their school. This generates a compounding effect in the upward social mobility for these children, and thus benefits society in general. Solar lanterns also provide access to clean and sustainable energy.
With your donation, Light for the Night will buy solar lanterns to donate to children in developing countries. The average cost for a solar lantern about $9 (different lanterns are used in different areas of the world). To reduce shipping costs, where ever possible our nonprofit buys solar lanterns in the country in which we are donating solar lanterns to. At the end of each year, we research which areas to donate the lanterns.
Organizer and beneficiary
Darin Khan
Organizer
Lawrence Township, NJ
Manjula Khan
Beneficiary