Light Up Mama Africa, a journey with Kiran Kreer | Voyage Of Light

Update:

Hey friends

This crowdfunding page has been stopped as per Paypal policy that only limits crowdfunding for 120 days. So we will soon start a new page for the coming projects and social aid work in West Africa. Please go to : https://assets.gogetfunding.com/light-up-mama-africa/ for the new updates and project contributions.

Thank you and warm hugs for all those who supported me on this journey so far and I hope more will keep supporting us as we begin the social works here in West Africa. New updates and project details will be posted on the social media page too.

Love & Light,

Kiran Kreer

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It has been six years now since I first started travelling, living as a nomad, sharing my adventures through photographic stories and social projects. Somehow Africa has been a continent that I always felt inspired with but the same time nervously waiting for the right time, the strength and purpose for it. A purpose to explore the unknown.

Today this journey is coming together, growing into something more, a treehouse of explorers, who are coming together to share their passions, skills and knowledge. It has become a grassroots social movement, creating a purpose for travellers and supporting those in need. Now becoming a foundation of conscious explorers - 'Voyage Of Light'.

"We wish to share our experiences as explorers, to support and empower rural communities, with a gift of light."

This mission here started in January 2019, now it takes me across West Africa by land, starting from Morocco, towards the colours of Senegal and the beautiful fishing villages of Gambia. Following the coastal routes, with the Atlantic guiding me south. Next heading into Ghana and beyond. Exploring parts of this amazing and cultural lands, the main aim is to explore and empower those rural villages that live without the basic human needs.

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EXPLORING WEST AFRICA

Africa currently still has over 500 million people who still live with NO access of electricity, proper shelters or basic rights. Basic human rights which has been in lives of many of us in the cities, without a realisation how much we are wasting, consuming or some living with it as a luxury. While in parts of the world like Africa, with over 1.2 billion in population, most of the tribes are used to live with less or nothing, living with no electricity, with no clean drinking water or proper shelters. Children needing a basic education, families displaced or women needing empowerment.

For this mission, with the aim to donate 1000 Nokero solar lights to 500 families, empowering communities with basic needs, supporting children education and creating sustainable solutions in West Africa (Senegal, Gambia & Ghana). To start with, travelling into these rural villages, living among the African tribes and supporting these families as we explore the cultures of these ancestral lands. To be there in presence to support these beautiful tribal communities, with our time, efforts and experiences.

"I hope we can all come together, with love and empathy, to support these communities and be part of something greater than us." - Kiran Kreer

To sum up this travel project | Light Up Mama Africa :

• Exploring West Africa in One Year.
• Photographic Stories of Cultures and Tribes (via social media)
• Solar Lights for those living with No Electricity.
• Basic Needs and Sustainable Solutions.
• Self Empowerment and Education projects.

WHY IS THIS PROJECT IMPORTANT?

My friends ask me, why are you doing this? That's a difficult question to answer, as for why I live this path of life or why this project. I guess the short answer is that my journey brought me here. It's been six years of travelling, the happenings of social projects, solar lights, building shelters and relief aid. Since the Philippines typhoon in 2013. It's what I'm passionate about, I feel much more alive when I'm working in rural communities, creating ideas and exploring. I cannot just keep travelling knowing that there are those I cross path with less or nothing. Knowing families who had lost homes due to natural disasters or those who live mainly with no electricity, shelters or even a proper education. These are people too, with real lives like you and me. The same passion and ideas of life, who feel to be empowered too.

I didn't want to just keep traveling as a photographer, visitor or a tourist. While we know about the social issues and how hard life is for others, while we travel in their countries and villages. Maybe that's my why. I don't know. What I do know is that I am here in their homes, communities and lands now. I am witnessing their lives as I live mine. This is what we can do for them while we understand their cultures and needs. While we share these spaces and relationships. Giving back our knowledge, sharing our tools and creating sustainable ideas. I truly believe, this is how we can create this balance of life. With a simple trade of service and sharing the light.

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GIVE LIGHTS | SHELTERS | BASIC RIGHTS | EDUCATION | EMPOWERMENT
+ + CONSCIOUS EVENTS | WORKSHOPS + +

(The Voyage Of Light official website will soon be live)

(www.VoyageOfLight.org)

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MISSION NOW: LIGHT UP MAMA AFRICA | GAMBIA

We aim to send 1000 solar lights into rural villages in south Senegal and Gambia. Start educations programs for children and self sustaining ideas. Mainly for the underprivileged families by the river side, fisherman, slums and farmers. Poverty in the south is still on the rise and social issues with children. What we can do is to minimise it or help create more awareness of this issues.

Poverty in Gambia is largely a rural phenomenon, with 74 percent (74%) of the rural population living below the poverty line. Gambia's poverty rate directly correlates with the country's agriculture reliance. More than 60 percent of Gambia's population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods.

The Gambia is poor, cripplingly poor, with over a third of its population of 1.7 million surviving below the United Nations poverty line of $1.25 a day. (via UN, Google).

Our FIRST GOAL:

Donating solar lights to families living with no electricity. Solar lights for 500 rural families.

Why these solar lights? Because its a simple solution to help light up homes, to replace the usage of kerosene lamps/candles, it’s a gift of hope and it’s a ‘eye opener’ for others to notice tribes/children and to get more help into this areas.

Most importantly it’s clean green energy for children to read, mother’s to feed their babies, for women to protect themselves, walking lights and also works as an emergency light. Families no longer need to survive in the dark or with harmful kerosene fuels. Two of these natural energy lights will light up the whole simple house.

It's a gift of light to get into these lives. And starting the other social projects as we identify and access them.

ABOUT THE LIGHT – Nokero Solar Light Bulb.

The Nokero N233 is perfect for camping, emergency lighting, and other off-grid lighting. It is bright enough for reading, working or lighting up a tent, shelters and runs up to 15 hours after just a day’s charge. It is designed and tested here Colorado and will withstand years of daily use in the world’s harshest conditions. It has been specially designed for use during emergency and natural disasters.

• Tough: Fully weatherproof and designed for the outdoors
• Bright: High and low brightness settings
• Simple: Hang it, hold it, or stand it up
• Dependable: Includes a 2 year warranty and the rechargeable battery lasts up to 5 years

And one more thing – we are proud to announce that the Nokero N233 is the world’s most efficient light!.

“Nokero is not just a company that makes solar lights, it's about Steve Katsaros, an inventor who designed these lights as his passion to help those needing it. He is my friend, someone who has trusted me since the beginnings, to bring these lights wherever I explored."

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HOW WILL THE FUNDS BE USED?

• Purchase of Nokero Solar Lights (shipped by batches of 200/300 pcs)
• Sustainable Solutions (Water, Shelter, Livelihood etc), Art Workshops and Holistic Gatherings.
• Operations, Accommodations, Transportation cost.

These are rough expenses for the next one year, as the figures may change depending on environment and project locations in Africa. All funds will be used for the explorations, project movement and completion.

Your contributions allow us to keep going, travelling with a purpose and creating ideas, supporting these communities and making a difference in their lives.

You can choose to contribute US$15 as a gift of light or US$30 to light up a home. Click the 'Donate' button to choose how many lights you wish to purchase for these families. Or any other amount you feel comfortable with.

How Does This Work?

This chain reaction can only happen with ‘YOU’. When sufficient funds are collected for the total lights needed for that certain area. We would need a min of 200-300 lights to make the order, the bulk pricing and customs fees. We will purchase the Nokero solar lights via a local NGO/Society and ship them to location closest to the villages. Delivery will be made within 2-3 weeks of receiving the lights. The cost of each light includes price of light, shipping, custom fees and logistics to get the lights into different villages.

The breakdown for the solar light cost:

US$7.00 (Basic cost), US$1.00 (Shipping fees), US$1.00-US$2.00 (customs depending on each country), US$5.00 for cost operations, project management & logistics. Total cost is US$15.00 to send a gift of light.

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How Can You Support?

1. BE THE LIGHT | Give back with your skills, knowledge and passion. Contact me via email([email protected]) or Facebook/Instagram (Kiran Kreer).

2. SEND A GIFT OF LIGHT. Contribute and support us via this Crowdfunding page (Paypal/CreditCard).

or for Malaysian/International Bank Transfers:

Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank)
Beneficiary Name : iMKIRAN Nation
Account Number : 514123632561
Tag #VOL

3. SHARE LIGHT. Share this out to friends and family, help raise more awareness, every single share, your voice and support matters.

Every penny matters when it comes to even small ideas in Africa, as the paper currency converts to a bigger purpose when used in these rural locations, converting it to a bigger purpose. So please send any amount that you wish to support with.

Each US$10.00 goes a long way here. We hope you choose to take One Step to help light up some lives in West Africa.

Love & Light,

Kiran Kreer

Founder | Voyage Of Light

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PAST PROJECTS: http://www.imkiran.com/creations/