Enlightened students from Singapore have forged a personal crusade to bring solar power to remote island communities through Project Light. So far they have taken 200 solar lamps produced by D.light design to the remote Riau islands off Indonesia, and hope to reach 10,000 people. The students were taken aback by the eagerness of local residents to switch from their dangerous kerosene lamps to the more safe and efficient option.

Project Light was set up by the Nusantara Development Initiative which brings together young people from different nationalities to work for a common cause.

The students were keen to solve the lack of off-grid power in these traditional communities and did their research to check out the options, settling on D.light’s kiran lamp as the best and most cost-effective solution. Now the families using the lamps have brighter light, are saving money (about $60 a year) and their children are safe from the risk of fire. The project is switched on to the benefits of social enterprise, ensuring that families pay for the lamps in small instalments and training local women as “Ambassadors” to encourage others to join in and generate a small income for themselves.

Read more on their project here.