I’ve been investing in off-grid solar systems for more than a decade; in lighting, for nearly two. That means meeting hundreds of individuals representing hundreds of millions who previously lived in the dark, relying on dirty, expensive, dangerous kerosene for light.
I remember a woman named Rebecca in Kenya. When we met in 2023, she had just installed a solar system. She told me she used to live in fear — fear of snakes or men when she used the outdoor toilet at night. Now, she said, “I feel safe. My children and I can read at night. We can watch television and be connected to the world. We can feel free.”
