In the News

Read this inspiring article by John Stroud about the Solar Suitcase educational programs created by Solar Energy International and WE CARE Solar – December 4, 2011
Home Power Magazine’s Kelly Davidson traces the efforts of WE CARE Solar to improve maternal health in this interview with co-founders Hal Aronson and Laura Stachel – December 2011
Daryl Kagan interviewed Dr. Laura Stachel about her transition from clinical practice to public health after a life-changing back injury – November 8, 2011
Chris Meehan highlights WE CARE Solar’s recent win of the Nokia Health Tech Award in San Jose – October 28, 2011
Harry McKracken reports on the winners of the 2011 Tech Awards, including WE CARE Solar – Oct 21, 2011
OB/GYN’s solar suitcase saves lives in poor nations
James Temple interviewed WE CARE Solar founders Laura Stachel and Hal Aronson in this terrific article about our organization – Oct 16, 11
‘Our Bodies, Ourselves’ taught women about sexuality and reproductive health
Laura Stachel was interviewed for this article about the impact of the 1970′s classic women’s health book entitled ”Our Bodies Ourselves”  - October 4, 2011
School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley – Sept 22, 2011
Governor of the Republic of Liberia – Governor’s Mansion – March 17, 2011
The Tech Awards 2011 Laureate
WE CARE Solar was today named as a laureate of The Tech Awards 2011 in recognition of its work to reduce maternal and infant morbidity and mortality in the developing world by providing solar electricity for lighting and communications – September 15, 2011
Innovations in Global Healthcare
ABC News SaveOne.net global health website by ABC news. They featured an “Innovations in Global Healthcare” panel on July 2, 2011 at the Aspen Ideas festival. Their website includes a video of Dr. Laura Stachel speaking at the panel.
Green Tech Innovations
Aspen Ideas Festival 2011 featured a Green Tech Innovations Panel, including WE CARE Solar. See the presentation by co-founder Laura Stachel, which begins 16:50 minutes into the video – July 2011
Can Solar Power System in a Suitcase Save Mothers’ Lives?
Senior Editor, Alexis Madrigal, interviewed Hal Aronson and Laura Stachel at the 2011 Aspen Ideas Festival. Here’s his article on the Solar Suitcase – July 2011
Inspirational Women of 2011
Elle magazine writes about Laura Stachel and gives WE CARE Solar a 2011 “Green Award” in their July 2011 issue.
CNN Innovation Blog
Kiwanja founder Ken Banks wrote a commentary about unlikely innovators, featuring Laura Stachel and WE CARE Solar in this CNN blog - June 15, 2011
The Rise of the Reluctant Innovator
Blog by Frontline SMS founder Ken Banks on”The Rise of the Reluctant Innovator,”where he talks about meeting Dr. Stachel – February 24, 2011
Shining a Light on Maternal Mortality
Christina Hernandez talks with Dr. Laura Stachel about WE CARE Solar-February 17, 2011
WE CARE Solar’s Design for Impact Lab Feedback Implemented in Solar Suitcase for Liberia
Boston-based design group Design That Matters met with Dr. Stachel at the end of January to help with suitcase design – February 4, 2011
Solar Suitcase Sheds Light on Sunset Deliveries in Developing Countries.
Alex Goldmark of Fast Company interviews Laura Stachel in October 2010 about the WE CARE solar programs in developing countries – October 27, 2011
WE CARE Solar—A Suitcase-Size Solution to Reducing Maternal Mortality
Carol Erickson from Ashoka talks with Dr. Laura Stachel – June 19, 2011
Voice of America
Voice of American featured WE CARE Solar in an article and radio show that played on NPR about our work to bring solar suitcases to Haiti and Africa.
Post Independent, Yampah students make the case for solar energy
Students at Yampah Mountain High School, Glenwood Springs, CO, volunteer to help build solar suitcases destined for Haiti – May 13, 2010
ASPH, Berkeley Chancellor’s Awards Recognize Student, Professor for Public Service
Dr. Laura Stachel, a DrPH candidate, received the Graduate Student Award for Civic Engagement from the UC Berkeley Chancellor – May 7, 2010
CBS 5 News, Solar Project Sheds Light On Desperate Conditions
Kate Kelly reports on Jefferson Award Winner Dr. Laura Stachel -May 5, 2010
Psychology Today
“Laura Stachel: Giving Light and Life” by Carlin Flora – June 2010
UC Students Mobilize for Haiti
Donna Hemmila talks about the efforts of WE CARE Solar in Haiti and the impact of Solar Suitcases on the relief efforts – April 26, 2010
ECE Students, Faculty Help Expand Impact of “Solar Suitcase”
In the Villanova Univerty College of Engineering, students learn to see the value of applying their skills to benefit the greater good. In the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, this commitment can be seen in the growing collaboration between ECE faculty and students and WE CARE Solar.
DC Kids Build Solar Kits for Haiti
Here’s a Fox News video on the participation of DC urban youth involved in our solar suitcase project under the direction of WDC Solar and ARCH Development. These suitcases are being made for Haiti.
Let There Be Light: A new generation of lighting solutions seeks to illuminate the darkest recesses of the world.
An article by Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson in Architectural Lighting reviews off-grid lighting solutions for the developing world, including WE CARE Solar.
Our Bodies Ourselves announces the 2010 Women’s Health Heroes Hall of Fame Laura Stachel chosen as a 2010 Women’s Health Hero.

The Solar Suitcase
This transcript and video feature a July 2010 interview about obstetric care in Nigeria and the function of the solar suitcase.
Social Entrepreneurs Bring Lessons to Silicon Valley
Story by Mike Cassidy of the San Jose Mercury, who interviewed Laura Stachel and other social entrepreneurs attending the 2010 Global Social Benefit Incubator at Santa Clara University. Twenty innovators from around the globe came together for two weeks for an MBA “boot camp” to strategize how to bring their own projects to scale.
Sunlight Captured In a Suitcase is Saving Lives
Darlene Hartley captures the essence of our mission in this article written for an on-line semi-conductor publication called Bright Side of the News – March 15, 2010
The California Report, “Solar Suitcases”
Rachel Dornhelm recorded the sounds of WE CARE Solar members Hal Aronson and Laura Stachel as they prepared to send suitcases to Haiti and Zimbabwe. Listen in to NPR’s The California Report – March 12, 2010.
Sacramento News and Review
“Sunlight Suitcases” by Sena Christian – February 25, 2010
One Million Lights
“Imagine a Hospital without lights” by Laura Stachel shows images of BOGO lights brought to Nigeria to aid health workers – February 2010

Daily Californian,

“Couple’s ‘Solar Suitcases’ Give Haitian Hospitals Solar Energy” by Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato – January 5, 2010

Berkeley Daily Planet
“Solar Power: From Berkeley to Haiti and Beyond” by Berkeley Daily Planet reporter, Raymond Barglow – January 28, 2010
Global Engagement
“A smart way you can help Haiti,” by Annie White is a blog by one of our earliest supporters from Canada – January 26, 2010
World Vision Report
Interview by Peggy Wegemeyer, “WE CARE Solar” – January 9, 2010
Sacramento Bee
“Elk Grove students power up medical solar suitcases to help save lives” -November 10, 2009
Berkeley Health Magazine
School of Public Health at Berkeley presents this article on “Portable Solar Power for Health Facilities” – Fall 2009 issue
California Magazine
“Delivering Health” by Gail Bensinger – Fall 2009 issue
Winner of NY Times Half the Sky Contest - October 2, 2009
Click here to read the winning essay… by WE CARE Solar’s co-founder, Laura Stachel
BBC World
Clark Boyd features a podcast on WE CARE Solar - August 7, 2009
Hesperian Foundation
“Renewable Energy in Rural Health Clinics” – July 23, 2009
Tonic.com
“A Very Bright Idea” by Kendall Hunter (July 22, 2009)
New Hampshire Public Radio Word of Mouth
features radio interview by Virginia Prescott – July 6, 2009
UN Dispatch
Childbirth via “solar suitcase” – June 4, 2009
Reuters AlertNet
How a “solar suitcase is saving women’s lives” – June 2, 2009
N.Y. Times
This opinion piece by Nicholas Kristof, entitled “Childbirth by Flashlight,” prompted many health facilities and donors to take notice of our solar initiatives – April 18, 2009
 

The Solar Suitcase

WE CARE Solar designs portable, cost-effective solar suitcases that power critical lighting, mobile communication devices and medical devices in low resource areas without reliable electricity.

By equipping off-grid medical clinics with solar power for medical and surgical lighting, walkie-talkies and essential medical devices, WE CARE Solar facilitates timely and appropriate emergency care, reducing maternal and infant morbidity and mortality and improving the quality of care in Africa, Haiti and other regions.

> Learn more about the Solar Suitcase
> Learn more About Us

Donate to WE CARE Solar

WE CARE Solar promotes safe childbirth in developing countries. Your donations allow us to fulfill requests from clinics around the world in need of Solar Suitcases. Donations also help us integrate new medical applications for the Solar Suitcase, establish new markets, and build a network of local Solar Suitcase trainers and technicians. We welcome and appreciate your investment in our cause.

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