With the number of Syrian refugees increasing everyday, it’s easy to see why the situation has been termed the worst refugee crisis of the century. Seven million Syrians have now been forced to flee their homes because of the civil war that has engulfed their nation, with 6000 crossing the border every new day that passes.
Unfortunately, the conditions in the refugee camps aren’t much better. Left with minimum access to basic necessities such as food, water and electricity, the people of Syria have found themselves in the middle of a situation that is difficult to overcome. Luckily, one organisation has come up with a brilliant way to make life just a little bit easier for those Syrians who have been forced to leave everything behind.
With the innovative use of solar energy, WakaWaka’s Solar for Syria campaign has created a device that gives Syrian refugees the ability to see after dark, as well as charge their phones so that they are able to connect with those they have left behind. It may not seem like much, but the device is already proving to change the living standards of Syrians in these refugee camps, with 62% of them saying that it has increased the safety of their family.
Having light after dark means that Syrian families are able to move about, cook, read and study. Particularly in the winter months when days are shorter, WakaWaka’s solar powered device enables families in the refugee camps to be more productive and keep themselves busy during the long winter evenings.
Additionally, being able to charge their phones means that they are no longer cut off from the loved ones they were forced to leave behind in Syria. One of the most challenging aspects of leaving your country behind is the emotional trauma that comes along with it. WakaWaka has given Syrian refugees a way to remain connected with their country until they can finally be reunited with it.
With the Guardian calling it “twice as efficient as any other solar lamp on the market” and Kofi Annan saying the campaign “brings light into the darkness in a sustainable and energy efficient way,” WakaWaka truly is changing the lives of millions of refugees with a simple yet groundbreaking idea.
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