The World Cup, brought to you by the Sun

We here at www.residentialsolar101.org spend most of our time educating homeowners about how, where, and when photovoltaic solar power can help you save on your electricity bill while contributing to a greener lifestyle. Sometimes, though, it’s nice to take a step back from our own lives and experience the way solar power can bring joy to those in far less fortunate circumstances—in this case, the residents of Kenya’s Kibera, the second-largest urban slum in Africa.

 

Every four years, the World Cup provides a global unification through sport, with citizens across the world sharing the agony and ecstasy that take place while watching your favorite team prove victorious or suffer defeat on the world’s stage.

 

 

Thanks to solar-power technology developed by youths in the slums, with technical assistance from Solafrica.ch, a Swiss-based, not-for-profit organization, a portable solar station has been installed in the slum to allow residents to watch the games at no cost. While the station is, of course, only a drop in the bucket when it comes to addressing the injustice of such a slum even existing, if brings even a moment’s happiness to a young soccer fan, then it is still a step in the right direction. Plus it’s a great indicator of just how viable an energy-source photovoltaic power has become. 

 

Even better, at the Cup’s end, the portable solar station will be installed in a local school to provide power. Whether you root for Argentina or bitter rival Brazil, England or Germany, or even the still-developing (to put it kindly) U.S. national team, that’s something any fan can cheer for.