2025 Update - We Care Solar

Many of you have asked how We Care Solar has been impacted by the uncertainty resulting from radical reductions of USAID funding for international aid organizations. We are deeply saddened by the impact that this defunding has had on our government and NGO partners. Its effect on the delivery of vital services can not be underestimated.

Thanks to your generosity and the strength of our broader network of supporters, We Care Solar is in a strong position to continue our programs and impact. . That said, we continue to monitor possible changes in tariffs, regulations, and other policy shifts that could affect our operations. While we can’t predict what will happen in the coming months, we are committed to transparency and will keep you informed of any developments that might impact our work.

We have some good news to share regarding our fundraising efforts. Last year, I had the opportunity to meet Melinda French Gates and introduce her to our Light Every Birth initiative. She encouraged us to apply for support through her Pivotal Ventures Fund, and we have been selected to advance to the second round of their Action for Women’s Health grant process. We are excited to be entering the Evaluation Panel Review phase.

Meanwhile, our programs are going strong. In our first half of this year, We Care Solar has made the following progress with our Light Every Birth and We Share Solar initiatives:

Solar for Health - Expanding The Light Every Birth Initiative

We Care Solar continues to focus on an area of obstetric care that is largely overlooked—reliable electricity. We have reached more than 10,000 health facilities with Solar Suitcases to date, working country by country through our Light Every Birth initiative.

Nigeria

In Nigeria, we are completing Solar Suitcase installations in Kebbi and Bauchi states. Last week, we joined government leaders and partners at Kuje General Hospital in Abuja for a “flag off ceremony” to officially launch the next phase of Light Every Birth Nigeria in the Federal Capital Territory. Over the coming years, Light Every Birth Nigeria will bring reliable power to clinics serving 7.2 million mothers and newborns.

“I am so happy about this We Care Solar Light Every Birth program. For eight years we have not seen the light in this community, we only use a generator. Our midwives have used torch lights to do their work but with this Solar Suitcase installation we will always have light now. I am particularly happy about the headlamps. They are very good and important. Sometimes the midwives had to put their torches under their Hijabs and head ties to do their work, but with the headlamps they will no longer need to do so. These headlamps will indeed make their work very easy. Thank you so much for thinking about us. You have indeed brought help and succor to us.” – Nigerian Health Worker

Tanzania

In Tanzania, our newest program country, we are leading solar trainings in order to equip 300 health centers in the Lake Zone with Solar Suitcases. As stated by Pamela Rwezaura, our Tanzania Country Program Manager:

“The training is not just about installing solar systems. It’s about impacting change and ensuring every health facility will have access to essential light so that every mother delivers in a safe and well-lit environment.”

In Malawi, we are nearing the completion of the implementation phase of the Light Every Birth initiative, resulting in 800 Solar Suitcases installed in health clinics across the country. As we transition into the sustainability phase, the program will shift toward government ownership and ongoing training of local technicians to ensure long-term maintenance and impact of Solar Suitcases.

In Mozambique, we’re laying the foundation for a 250-unit pilot program in response to critical gaps in maternal health care. A successful pilot will demonstrate the viability and impact of solar electrification, paving the way for a national Light Every Birth rollout.

Solar for Education - We Share Solar

We Share Solar trains middle school, high school, and college level teachers in the principles of solar electricity, provides an engaging, adaptable, and student-facing curriculum, and supports teachers in implementing our “Learn, Build, Share” STEM education model at their schools.

Launch of the Solar Suitcase Learning Kit

We Share Solar is launching a new classroom program model and improved hands-on experience for students in fall 2025. The Solar Suitcase Learning Kit is a stand-alone solar system that has been designed specifically for teaching and learning. At the same time, we have also made improvements in the design of our blue Solar Suitcases for unelectrified schools. When U.S. students participate in a We Share Solar program at their school, they will also be connected to an international deployment of a Solar Suitcase to a school or community center in Kenya or Uganda.

We Share Solar Suitcase Deployments

Uganda: In April, We Share Solar completed our first education pilot with Save the Children. Together, we deployed Solar Suitcases to 39 Ugandan schools that lacked reliable electricity. The We Share Solar Suitcases will provide light and device-charging capability to peer schools in rural communities. We are very excited about this new collaboration and are hopeful it will help us expand our reach to additional schools this year.

Kenya: We Share Solar is partnering with the Human Elephant Coexistence Program of Save the Elephants to deliver a teacher training workshop and install Solar Suitcases in schools near Tsavo National Park in Sagalla, Kenya. Save the Elephants will engage its Women’s Enterprise Center to share solar technical skills and expand access to solar in the local economy. Women in the community are eager to learn how solar could serve their households, generate income from pico charging systems, and reduce human-elephant conflict by illuminating their farms with renewable light.