Mwezi lights in 2025-2026: contributing directly to 10 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
The primary purpose of a Mwezi light is to improve education – but it also has many wider, equally valuable benefits. We are very proud that our lights directly support at least 10 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
THEY IMPROVE EDUCATION:
Regular use of a Mwezi light helps students from very disadvantaged backgrounds consolidate their learning, so they have the best chance of completing secondary school and securing a good-quality job. (SDG 4 Quality Education, SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities).
THEY HELP KEEP PUPILS IN SCHOOL – ESPECIALLY GIRLS:
Mwezi lights increase retention in school for all students – but disproportionately for girls. If a girl has access to a Mwezi light, her parents typically value her education more and want her to succeed. Keeping a daughter in education also means she is less likely to be married off early, get pregnant as a teen, or be sent away to domestic service – all situations fraught with physical and emotional risk. (SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being, SDG 4 Quality Education, SDG 5 Gender Equality, SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities).
THEY PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT:
We estimate each Mwezi light saves up to 92kg of CO2 emissions per year compared to a kerosene lamp – the typical alternative lighting source.[1] In particular, Mwezi solar lights avoid the notorious ‘black carbon’ particulates which kerosene combustion emits. (SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being, SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13 Climate Action).
THEY IMPROVE FAMILY FINANCES:
The remote communities where we work are among the poorest in Kenya: no mains electricity, piped water or tarmac roads; parents often unemployed; and families sometimes having just one meal a day. With a Mwezi lamp households gain access to light in the evening and early morning, without the cost of kerosene. We estimate that in 2025 families saved an average of KES 2,641 (c.£15.00) per month. This is a significant sum for the poorest families. (SDG 1 No Poverty, SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities).
THEY PROTECT HEALTH:
The fumes from kerosene are strongly linked to breathing, eyesight and skin problems, and kerosene lamps are a significant cause of burns and household fires. Mwezi solar lights replace kerosene and avoid all these issues. Teachers report that Mwezi lights also help protect families’ mental health, due to feeling safer at home after dark, reduced worry about finances, and reassurance for parents that their child’s education is supported. (SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being, SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities).
THEY BOOST STUDENTS’ SELF-CONFIDENCE AND SENSE OF AGENCY:
As their grades rise through consistent study, students realise that by their own efforts they can positively influence the course of their lives. (SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being, SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities, SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals).
THEY BOOST TEACHER MORALE AND DEDICATION:
Being part of the Mwezi programme and receiving the support of our committed Kenyan staff is greatly valued by our partner teachers, who are often working in very difficult conditions, in what are seen as ‘hardship’ postings. (SDG 4 Quality Education, SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth, SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities, SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals).
THEY HELP BUILD THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY:
Our ‘repair or replace’ guarantee is, we believe, unique in the solar lights sector. We never throw away a broken light: we repair it (at no charge to schools or students), or salvage all possible parts. This approach not only helps the environment, but also maximises the lifespan of the lights, their benefit to students and families, and the funds of donors. (SDG 1 No Poverty, SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy, SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, SDG 13 Climate Action).
Receiving a Mwezi light for the first time.
Lessons in progress at Vishakani School, Kilifi county, Kenya.
Studying at home with a Mwezi light.
Zaiani School students with their lights.
