Current Initiatives

Grandmother's AIDS Orphan Project We are proud to announce our next solar lighting project. We'll be partnering with the NYAKA AIDS ORPHANS PROJECT in Uganda. to provide our clean, renewable solar lights to their Grandmother program.

Nyaka serves more than 7,000 Grandmothers, who are the true unsung heroes of the Nyaka AIDS Orphans Project. Having tragically lost their own children to HIV/AIDS, they are now raising their orphaned grandchildren, the Nyaka students. Many support up to fourteen children without social security, health care, retirement, child welfare, or basic housing.

No bathroom. No kitchen. No electricity. Sadly, many of these women and their families are living in a completely impoverished state. They have no latrine pit, no place or equipment to cook meals for their families, and the stability of their hut is questionable. Their only source of light is dangerous open flame candles, or toxic kerosene. Eager to learn and eager to earn The Grandmothers of Nyaka want nothing more than to provide for their families. They will weave, sew, garden, and farm - whatever it takes to help break the cycle of poverty. Nyaka continues to develop income-generating projects and micro-finance for all Grandmothers in the Kanungu and Rukingiri Districts in order to promote their economic independence. Please help us to provide safe, renewable solar light to help our Grandmothers, the true unsung heroes of Nyaka. Our goal for 2011-2012 is to provide 550 lights to the Nyaka grandmothers to help provide economic independence, safety and the opportunity for the children to be able to study at night. How you can help. With a donation of $50.00 we can provide a grandmother with life changing solar light that will help prevent open flame burns, toxic fumes and will enhance the ability of the families to redirect funds used for kerosene and candles to income generating projects, food, and healthcare.

Lantern Distribution
and Solar Project  History

Fifty Lanterns has completed seventeen major distributions or solar installation projects since it was founded in late 2004. Each of these projects made a vital difference in the lives of widows, orphans, families, and disaster victims. As with all of our projects, we work closely with our partners to select the recipients of the solar lanterns. Linda and other 50 Lanterns representatives make each distribution personally, meeting and photographing many of the recipients. Fifty Lanterns is committed to follow our recipients over the long term to learn first hand how this gift has helped each family to change their lives.

In the months and years to come, we are eager to document the impact that solar energy has had on these vulnerable communities. Please check back for full reviews of our programs and their impact.

Seventeenth project - 9/20/12

Sixteenth distribution - 3/8/11

We partnered with Minnesota based Healing Haiti, we were able to provide 60 solar lights to their elder care program as well as assess the solar energy needs for their new orphanage, feeding center and elder housing projects. We hope to continue our partnership in 2012.

Fifteenth distribution - 8/17/10

With the help of a donation of 800 lights from Alamy stock photo agency and along with with American Refugee Committee we were able to distribute our solar lights in two IDP camps (internally displaced people) near Port au Prince. All 320 families in Camp Hope received a solar bogolight and 480 were distributed in camp Terran Acra, home to 5000 families.

Fourteenth distribution - 2/15/10

We once again partnered with International Health Services to provide solar lights in the village of Pranza in the La Mosquitia region of Honduras. We even got a few lights into Nicaragua in the village of San Geronimo. The solar lights are in high demand in this difficult and remote region.

Thirteenth distribution - 11/15/09

50 Lanterns once again partnered with The Image Project Tanzania. We distributed 75 K-lights, and 30 Bogo lights to girls and women in Namnyaki school in Kwale village, secondary girls in Image school, and families in the new Massai village of Mvuha, 4 hours from Morogoro through the mountains.

Twelfth distribution - 2/15/09

50 Lanterns partnered with International Health Services to distribute during IHS's annual medical mission. Bogo Lights were given to midwives and women headed households throughout the country including Raya, Lisonitura, Kruta River area, and the surrounding villages Marcovia.

Eleventh distribution - 1/12/09

50 Lanterns partnered with American Refugee Committee to Light 23 rooms in Nybaheki clinic/hospital refugee camp, Rwanda. This project was partially made possible by the Mary Alphonse Bradley Fund from the Servite Sisters of Ladysmith, Wisconsin.

Tenth distribution - 12/1/08

50 Lanterns continued their partnership with the SPREAD coffee project to distribute 150 lanterns to our Rwandan coffee farmers.

Ninth distribution - 11/24/08

50 Lanterns partnered with Image Tanzaniao distribute 50 BoGo lights to women and teachers in the Masaai village of Kwale in Tanzania. Assessment for possible future projects in the Masaii village was included as a part of this distribution.

Eighth distribution - 6/1/08

50 Lanterns partnered with The Hope Foundation in Andhra Pradesh, India. 150 solar lanterns were distributed to widows, orphans, healthcare workers and others in need in rural India. The response to our solar lanterns was touching and overwhelming. With your help we are continuing to make a positive impact on those most in need around the world.

Seventh distribution - 3/15/08

50 Lanterns partnered with International Health Services to distribute 200 solar BoGo lights in Honduras during IHS's annual medical mission. The BoGo lights were given to mid-wives, healthcare volunteers, and others in need throughout Honduras including the areas of La Mosquitia, Puerto Lamperia, and Yaruca.

Sixth distribution - 4/27/07

50 Lanterns partnered with the SPREAD coffee project and Dr. Tim Shilling to distribute 150 lanterns to the coffee growers of Resenyi, Rwanda. Thank you to all who purchase our Bright Blend coffee to help keep this partnership growing. The need for solar lanterns continues to be great in Rwanda.

Fifth distribution - 10/13/06

50 Lanterns partnered with Habitat for Humanity International to distribute 150 Lanterns to recipients in the Hazzara community of Ali Abod, Northern Afghanistan.

Fourth distribution - 5/12/06

50 Lanterns distributed 300 lanterns to widows and orphan coffee farmers in Resenyi, Rwanda through our coffee partner the PEARL project. These are the farmers who grow our fabulous Bright Blend coffee. All proceeds from coffee sales go back into the Rwandan solar lantern project.

Third distribution - 1/18/06

50 Lanterns partnered Hope Worldwide to provide 100 lanterns to earthquake survivors in Northern Pakistan, and Kashmir. The earthquake was so widespread in its complete devastation; 3.3 million people were left homeless. With so many families in tents burns became a major concern when candles and kerosene set the tents on fire.

Second distribution - 11/5/05

50 Lanterns partnered with Hope Worldwide to provide 30 lanterns to Pakistan earthquake survivors and medical personal. 20 heavy duty family tents were also sent to fill the critical need of families left homeless after the Pakistan earthquake.

First distribution - 8/28/05

50 Lanterns partnered with CARE Afghanistan to distribute 50 lanterns to widows in CARE's income generating program. As this was our pilot project, it was clear from the start that the lanterns would have a profoundly positive impact on our recipients.
Distribution Impact:

Distribution	Location	Lanterns/BoGos Distributed	Lives Changed *
1	Afghanistan	50	250
2	Pakistan	30	150
3	Pakistan & Kashmir	100	500
4	Rwanda	300	1500
5	Afghanistan	150	750
6	Rwanda	150	750
7	Honduras	200	1000
8	India	150	750
9	Tanzania	50	250
10	Rwanda	150	750
11	Rwanda	Hospital lighting	13,800
12	Honduras	150	750
13	Tanzania	105	525
14	Honduras	100	500
15 and 16th	Haiti	860	4,300
17	Ethiopia	Solar lighting for two schools	300+
Total			29,525

* Number based upon average family size of five people.