“From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised. The Lord is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens.” (Psalm 113:3-4)
The Israel-based non-profit Innovation: Africa is empowering one superstar’s hometown in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with solar technology, aided by nine basketball greats who visited the country this week, including NBA legend and DRC native Dikembe Mutombo.
About 90 percent of the people in the DRC live without electricity, compromising many areas of life, including global connectedness and economic opportunities on the one hand, and community infrastructure with important health options on the other.
Some critical issues that affect communities off the grid include limited access to clean water, mortality issues affecting newborns, and educational opportunities, since people are confined to studying during daylight hours or face using precious fuel reserves for a kerosene lantern.
Dikembe Mutombo at the Aspire4Sport Congress in Doha.
This week, the hoop-loving delegation and Innovation: Africa personnel visited Mutombo’s hometown of Kinshasa, DRC, to participate in installing solar-based renewable electricity at the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital. Because of the solar units, the hospital will be able to refrigerate medicines and provide nighttime lighting for surgeons. (Times of Israel)
“We knew the need was great, but we also knew we’d need a lot of help to launch operations there,” said Innovation: Africa’s founder and president, Sivan Ya’ari. “Dikembe and his foundation were our ideal partners. They’ve been doing great work in the country for years. … Plus, we’re huge fans of Dikembe both on and off the court, so it’s exciting for our team and supporters to work with someone we so admire.”
Sivan Ya’ari, the founder of Innovation: Africa.
Ya’ari told The African Sun Times that Dikembe’s group helped to focus the innovators on top priority projects in the area and to build a network of DRC partners and contractors that will need to be involved in maintaining the solar projects over the long term.
The July 8–11 trip also resulted in installations of Israeli solar technology at Georgette’s Orphanage, which houses 150 children; a 740-student school; and a medical clinic outside Kinshasa that serves 11,000 people. (African Sun Times)
“With similar climates and natural resources, Israeli solar, water and agricultural technologies are a natural fit for African villages,” Ya’ari said. “Our mission is to share the knowledge and expertise developed in Israel with people and communities that need it.” (Blog: Size Doesn’t Matter)
Empowering these communities through self-supporting solar technology might also enable residents and service providers to exist off the national electricity grids that do exist, providing greater autonomy and financial opportunity for African villages hooked up to the sun.
This Innovation: Africa project will bring its total number of solar installations and agricultural projects in DRC, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Tanzania and South Africa to 80, impacting 677,880 people. ( Africa Sun Times)
“Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:15–16)
