Light Up Mama Africa, a journey via Voyage Of Light

This journey now takes us across West Africa by land, 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 access of electricity.

Voyage Of Light is a grassroots movement that supports rural communities living with no access of electricity and basic human needs, with self sustainable solutions, empowering our youth and educating our children. The core purpose of growing a movement of conscious explorers, a treehouse of passionate creators, who inspire to share the gift of light.

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

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Africa currently still has over 500 million people who still live with NO access of electricity, proper shelters or basic needs. 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 500 Nokero solar lights to 250 families in West Africa (rural Gambia), solar panels, aiding with basic needs, education workshops and shelters builds. To start with, travelling into these rural villages, locating these African families and supporting these communities as we explore the cultures of these ancestral lands.

MISSION NOW: LIGHT UP MAMA AFRICA

Poverty in Senegal and 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 the population depends on agriculture for their livelihoods.

We aim to send solar lights or install solar panels into rural villages in south Senegal and Gambia. Start educational workshops for children and self sustaining ideas. Mainly for the underprivileged families by the river side and farms. 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.

Our FIRST GOAL: 500 Solar Light for rural communities

Locating and providing solar lights/solar panels to families living with no electricity in rural Senegal/Gambia. Solar lights for 250 families that live without the access of electricity and proper shelters.

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. With a mission to support with other social projects as we identify and assess them. Aiding with basic needs and empowering these communities. Which takes time and effort to explore and move further into these rural villages, locating those in need, crossing paths with families that we can empower. This is our mission and purpose, as travellers and human beings. To give back the gift of light.

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

"We are proud to announce that the Nokero N233 is the world’s most efficient light! Nokero is the only solar company to win the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Patents for Humanity Award." – Nokero Inc.

“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 500 Nokero Solar Lights / Solar Panels
• Water Access, Building Shelters & Schools.
• Sustainable Solutions (Livelihood & Workshops).
• Operations, Logistics, Transportation cost.

These are rough expenses for the next one year, as the figures may change depending on environment and project locations in rural villages. All funds will be used for project operations and completion. Families here use harmful kerosene lamps and wood fire when it gets dark. You can choose to donate US$15 for a single light for a child or US$30 to light up a home with clean solar energy.

So it takes only US$15.00 to help light up a home, the price of a fancy dinner, drinks in a cafe, new shoes or a branded makeup set. We hope with empathy and love, we are able to come together to support these rural families and help light up a few homes.

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 via Nokero, the bulk pricing and customs fees. Delivery will be made within 1-2 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.

Cost for each Nokero solar light US$15.00

Total lights needed 500 = US$7500.00

Solar Panels, Water Access & Rebuilding Shelters: US$7500.00

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How Can You Support?

1. SEND A GIFT OF LIGHT. Contribute via our Fundraising Page (Paypal/CreditCard).

or for Malaysian / International Bank Transfers:

Malayan Banking Berhad (Maybank)
Beneficiary Name : iMKIRAN Nation
Account Number/IBAN : 514123632561

SWIFT Code : MBBEMYKL

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

Every action 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. 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

Official website: https://www.voyageoflight.org/ (coming soon)

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