Country: Philippines

Year received light: 2013

First step: Selling Bamboo Barbeque sticks

Interesting fact: Nini was our first light recipient

Country: Malawi

Year received light: 2022

First step: Used the light to gather grasshoppers at night and started a business selling them

Big dream achieved: Sent her children to school

Country: Malawi

Year received light: 2021

First step: stopped buying batteries and purchased chickens

Interesting Fact: Frank is thankful for his light for allowing him to grow his farm. He also uses the strobe function of his solar light to scare away elephants that attempted to pass through their village.

Country: Malawi

Year received light: 2023

First step: Within two months, she was selling sweet potatoes.

Interesting Fact: She repurposes dead corn, selling it as feed to buy soap.

Country: Malawi

Year received light: 2020

First step: Purchased a goat

Interesting fact: She is a widow, and grandmother and head of her household.

Country: Malawi

Year received light: 2021

First step: Bought chickens and weaves matts at night

Interesting fact: She is putting a tin roof on her house

Country:

Year received light:

First step: Saving to help support her grown children and her grandchildren

Big dream achieved: To purchase a metal roof.

Country: Malawi

Year received light: 2023

First step: It took a couple of weeks for her to grasp Watts of Love's financial literacy training, but the smile on her face when she pulled out her savings of 1000 kwacha from her Watts of Love box spoke volumes.

Big dream achieved: Felia plans to use her newfound knowledge and savings to send her grandchildren to school.

Country:

Year received light: 2023

First step: Invested in chickens

Interesting fact: When the hospital lost power during a recent stay, her light became a valuable resource for the staff caring for patients in different rooms.

For Hobed, a farmer near a wildlife reserve, his Watts of Love solar light became a game-changer for his nightly struggles against crop-eating animals. Using the light's strobe function to scare them off, he was able to protect and improve his harvest in one season. Then, empowered by Watts of Love's financial literacy training, Hobed saved his profits to purchase a pig. After the pig had a litter, he sold one of the piglets and was able to send his children to school, brightening their futures with newfound opportunities.

After receiving a Watts of Love solar light, the light became an essential part of Benedicto’s daily routine. The light has enabled him to skillfully prepare corn tortillas in the early morning and cook dinner for his three children in the evening. Before Watts of Love, Benedicto and his family relied on toxic and expensive candles and kerosene lamps for light. Now, he puts his savings towards school supplies for his children and has eliminated health risks from smoke inhalation. The transition to solar light has enhanced Benedicto’s daily tasks and his children’s education, and has created a healthier, brighter environment for his family.

After receiving his Watts of Love solar light and financial literacy training, Ida began investing his savings in his fishing business. First, he saved money he was previously using to purchase kerosene to buy a bike. With improved transportation, Ida could fish more often and transport more fish farther to sell. Ida has now saved enough to send his children to secondary school and achieve his Big Dream - to buy a motorcycle!

Less than a year after the loss of her husband, Thulani found a source of empowerment when she received her Watts of Love solar light and training in July 2023. With a child to care for and a generous spirit that welcomes others into her home, having savings is crucial for Thulani. She quickly applied what she learned from Watts of Love’s financial literacy training and saved more each week. Two months after receiving her solar light, she purchased her first chicken.

Jose and Leonila, facing poverty on the Philippines' Ilin Island, overcame challenges by transitioning from fishing to shoemaking after Jose suffered a foot injury. The gift of Watts of Love's solar light and financial education transformed their lives. With disciplined savings, they bought a pig, turning 1800 PHP (33 USD) into 21,600 PHP (400 USD) in just 9 months. This success enabled them to afford medicine, a tin roof, and surgery for Jose. Now stable, their new dreams include upgrading their shoemaking business and opening a sari-sari store.

The chief of Waiyatsa in Malawi chose Patricia and Aggie's grandfather to receive a Watts of Love solar light due to his age. Despite not physically having a solar light themselves, Watts of Love's financial literacy training has profoundly impacted his 18-year-old granddaughters, both mothers. Since receiving the training in July 2023, they've pooled resources to purchase their first chicken. The transformative power of teaching concepts like "savings" and "investing" has put Patricia and Aggie on their own paths toward financial freedom.

Soon after receiving his Watts of Love solar light, Jordan used its strobe function to ward off destructive elephants, protecting his home. Then, empowered by Watts of Love’s financial literacy training, he started saving what he previously spent on batteries, allowing him to afford medical care for his injured leg. Continuing to save, he now owns chickens and sells the eggs and chicks. This additional income allows Jordan to provide extra food and shelter for his grandchildren.

Empowered by a Watts of Love solar light and our financial literacy training, Axel wasted no time saving. He saved enough to send all four of his children to school and acquired two pigs. With a strategic vision, he plans to breed the pigs and sell the piglets for additional income. Axel's Big Dream is to build a spacious house with a tin roof, a dream now within reach.

Zigele is a resilient 72-year-old woman who also cares for her five grandchildren. She received Watts of Love’s solar light and financial literacy training in July 2023. No longer burdened by battery expenses, she quickly saved money, enabling her to revive her local beer-selling business in less than two months. Now, Zigele aspires to purchase chickens to sell the chicks, offering her enhanced financial security.

After receiving a Watts of Love solar light and financial literacy training, Maki promptly saved and bought five chickens. Later, faced with elephants threatening the village, he cleverly used the strobe function of his solar light to protect homes and livestock. As he continues to save, Maki's Big Dream is to purchase a cow.

After receiving the Watts of Love solar light and financial literacy training, Kennedy began redirecting his kerosene expenses toward savings. He invested in chickens and a goat that quickly had its first kid. Kennedy plans to breed and sell more goats to purchase a cow—Kennedy dreams of selling future calves to fund his children's college education. He says the solar light has improved his children's education by allowing them to study at night. Since receiving their solar light, Kennedy and his wife can also better care for their newborn. They have peace of mind at night and feel better equipped to protect their family.

Empowered by his Watts of Love solar light and financial literacy training, Yohan promptly started saving, leading him to invest in a goat. Over time, the goat had four kids. Selling two of them enabled Yohan to buy a bicycle. He intends to sustain a steady income through goat breeding with his remaining two pregnant goats. This newfound financial stability has allowed Yohan to send his children to school, and he is proud to report that his oldest son is now in 8th grade.

Country:

Year received light: 2019

First step: Bought chickens and then goats, then he purchased a rice plantation

Interesting fact: Now is house has a tin roof, and his kids are at the top of their class in school.

Country: Napal, Khokana leper colony

Year received light: 2018

First step: able to perform daily tasks easier

Interesting fact: Thuli was instrumental in the redesign of our lights. She has no fingers, so pushing a button was impossible. After meeting her in 2016, Watts of Love returned to her colony with a redesigned light that she could turn it on and off easily.

Country: Malawi

Year received light:

First step: Having the ability to work more hours

Interesting fact: Her daughter Martha went from struggling in school to top of her class

Country: Uganda

Year received light: 2018

First step: Purchased a duck

Interesting fact: The ducks have multiplied, giving them income and nourishment.

Country: Ilin Island Philippines

Year received light: 20__

First step: Used savings to purchase a chicken, sold eggs to purchase pig, sold livestock

Interesting fact: Owner of a small sari-sari store in her village, her husband now works for her.

Country: Malawi

Year received light: 2018

First step: Used his light to increase his work hours sharpening tools

Interesting fact: Knowing he could sharpen more tools, which would earn him more schillings, he retrofitted a grindstone to the rear axel of his bicycle. This not only increased his daily workflow, but it also made his business mobile.

Country: Haiti

Year received light: 2021

First step: Bought chickens first, paid her Childrens medical bills and bought a pig.

Interesting fact: Daisy was our translator on a visit and was one of the biggest skeptics. On our next trip, she had completely changed her attitude and ws thriving!

Elida, a single mother of two, received her Watts of Love solar light and financial literacy training in March 2018, marking a turning point in her life. Before this, she relied on flashlights and candles in her home.

Empowered, Elida invested in household supplies and purchased two hens that quickly began laying eggs she could sell. The additional income, coupled with her work in coffee plantations, brought financial stability. Elida also used the funds for her children's school supplies.

Her son's separate beekeeping venture adds to the family's progress. Grateful to Watts of Love for brightening her home, Elida is on a path to economic independence.

Months after receiving his Watts of Love solar light, Bosco, his wife, and their nine children eagerly and proudly welcomed the team to their home.

After receiving Watts of Love's financial literacy training and solar light, Bosco was keen on saving money previously spent on kerosene, especially with a large family to support. His initial savings allowed him to buy chickens, which, in turn, enabled him to acquire two goats. Bosco's vision extends to selling the goats to fund the purchase of pigs, with hopes for a lucrative breeding venture.

His Big Dream is to buy a larger home for his family.

Like many other grandmothers in Uganda, Ruth became the primary caregiver for her ten grandchildren when her daughters died of HIV. When she received her Watts of Love light, she had been desperately struggling to provide basic needs for her family.

Ruth has started a successful chicken and pig business since receiving her Watts of Love solar light and financial literacy training. She understood that she could save money and change her family’s future! She did this by using her savings to pay for her grandchildren’s school fees. Ruth is a perfect example of poverty alleviation in one generation!

In Malawi, people with albinism face severe marginalization and discrimination, lacking opportunities to defend their rights. Due to skin sensitivity, they're constrained to early morning or evening hours, limiting daytime productivity. Evenings bring threats, and kerosene lamps, vital for safety, lead to excessive use in this community, exacerbating poverty.

Watts of Love recognized the struggle and introduced solar lighting to enhance safety and productivity. The lights brought hope, empowering the albino community to emerge from poverty's darkness. Beyond providing solar lights and financial literacy, Watts of Love empowered albino individuals to lead, becoming beacons of hope in Malawi.

Before receiving a Watts of Love solar light, brothers Alfred and Yosef would study by dim candlelight for 30 minutes in the evening.

Now, these brothers study for over two hours every evening! With the advantage of solar light, they moved to the top of their class in less than a year. Only 5-10% of their class will be selected to move on to secondary school (high school), and Alfred and Yosef were among them. It’s incredible what having access to safe and reusable lighting can do.

In the Batwa village of Kebilemu in southern Uganda, Annette lives with her children and blind father. Before receiving a solar light in 2019, she weaved three small baskets per week and farmed for a living.

After receiving her solar light, she could weave three larger baskets weekly, making more money.

Within six months, she purchased two ducks and one chicken, and the chicken had five chicks. Still a farmer, she plans to breed ducks and chickens to sell and use that money to buy a pig for her family.

Annette understands the value of her light and uses the low setting while cooking and the brighter setting as a headlamp when weaving at night. She is excited by the opportunity for her son to have brighter light while studying. We can't wait to visit Annette and see how her animals and son have grown.

During a visit to a Malawi community, we met some thrilled light recipients. Shortly after receiving their Watts of Love solar light and financial literacy empowerment training, they formed a group named "aWATTSi" after Watts of Love.

Thanks to their Watts of Love solar lights, these empowered women started weaving together in the dark afternoons after spending the day caring for their crops. They could earn extra income by selling baskets, mats, and other goods, increasing their weekly production. They also shared how they hold each other accountable for their savings, with the money no longer spent on candles for light!

These women are a great example of how solar light and financial literacy can increase income and savings. Way to go, Awattsi's!

Nordino, a Mozambique worker, faithfully saved his kerosene money for five months to put a tin roof on his house. Because of his success in saving, he could take out a farm loan for just $40 to purchase the tin and get it installed before the rains came in December.

Nordino was excited to give his boys a sturdy roof over their heads. He had never slept in a house with an actual roof growing up, and it was something Nordino wanted to give his family. He is looking forward to his family hearing the sound of rain on their new roof.