Story by: Peyton Jacobsen for Borgen Magazine | (Above) Image courtesy of: Borgen Magazine
CHICAGO, Illinois — Today, 80 percent of the world has access to electricity. In Africa, only 30 percent of the continent has access, which translates to about 600 million people who are lacking the resource. Electricity is a necessity for modern life and the lack of access in Africa is a problem that keeps many people from social, economic and educational opportunities. Akon Lighting Africa is a nonprofit that was founded in 2014 and that seeks to provide a concrete response to Africa’s electricity crisis and set a precedent for future development with sustainable energy.
International music star, Akon, and entrepreneur Thione Niang were both born and raised in a small village in Senegal without electricity. “When I was young, we had to study by candlelight with only one candle for the entire family. I want to make sure that children no longer have to work in those conditions,” said Niang.
Within the first year, Akon Lighting Africa has managed to install a variety of solar solutions in 14 African countries.
Their personal experiences of growing up without the conveniences of modern utilities inspired them to look for a productive solution to the lack African energy. In 2013, they began discussing what could be done and came to the conclusion that the investment in energy in rural and semi-urban areas was the root of the solution and would lead to progress in health, education and economic development.
To read the full article, visit Borgen Magazine.
