A Beacon of Hope: Empowering with Light in Rural Classrooms

This new picture of the day captures a simple yet profoundly meaningful gesture: Susanti, our dedicated colleague from Rumah Kambera, East Sumba, hands a SolarBuddy lamp to a young boy at SD Masehi Haming School in Mau Bokul, Pandawai. Behind this moment lies a collaborative effort, as the Fair Future and Kawan Baik Indonesia foundations work diligently behind the scenes to ensure that over 2,224 SolarBuddy lamps reach those in the remotest regions.

That day was marked by extreme heat and a challenging journey: muddy paths, slippery slopes, and roads that seemed to vanish. Yet we arrived. In this classroom, we distributed 122 SolarBuddy Junior lamps and one SolarBuddy Student lamp to children who have never experienced electricity at home.

The photograph captures intense focus. The child’s gaze is riveted on the solar lamp—a symbol of change. Susanti’s calm, precise handout embodies patience. This transition from darkness to light is not just a moment; it’s a passage from one reality to another.

For this child, the lamp isn’t just a gadget. It may very well be the first electronic device he has touched. Crucially, it provides real, sustainable light. Tonight, life will change. With less risk of stumbling in the dark, there is safety. It enables safe meal preparation and homework completion after sunset. It is light for reading, drawing, and easing solitude as night falls. For many, it contributes to a peaceful slumber.

Electrification here signifies more than comfort. It represents safety, education, and human dignity. Through this programme, Fair Future and Kawan Baik Indonesia are not just sharing technology. They are reducing risks, enhancing educational opportunities, and vastly improving daily lives in communities where darkness traditionally cloaks the sky after sunset.

This photograph does not bear witness to mere charity. Instead, it epitomises access. It stands as a testament to meticulous work, arduous journeys, enduring heat, muddy paths, and to those who persist. It encapsulates an extended hand and a child prepared to receive a life-altering tool, quietly transforming his evenings and future.

Today, the 18th of December 2025 – Alex Wettstein

List of Related Organisations with Hyperlinks

• SolarBuddy: Provides solar lights to children living without electricity worldwide.
• UNICEF Education: Supports access to education and child safety in low-resource settings.
• World Health Organisation: Highlights links between injury prevention, the environment, and health.
• IEA Energy Access: Documents the global impact of energy poverty.
• Save the Children: Works on child protection, education, and safety in remote areas.
• Practical Action: Develops practical energy solutions for communities without electricity.