Solar Lights Shine in the Night for the Displaced 

The Etobicoke branch of the Canadian Federation of University Women was looking for a project to mark their 100th anniversary and chose to bring light to displaced people living in primitive camps in Ethiopia through their connections with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations.  
 
 
Pat Cleland is the current president of the Etobicoke chapter of CFUW and she told us about the organization.  It's mission is to pursue knowledge, promote education through scholarships for women and other means, and actively participating in public issues thereby improving the status of women and girls.
 
Mary Hilborn is the leader for the CFUW Etobicoke's Centennial Project, fundraising to support the International Organization for Migration in its efforts to provide Little Sun Solar lamps to internally displaced people (IDP), most of whom are women and children.  IDP sites are informal settlements that lack infrastructure.  Flashlights are used for domestic activities at night.  In addition to providing lamps, IOM also provides dignity kits containing underwear, feminine hygiene pads, soap, scarves and clothing to the more than 2 million women who have been displaced due to conflict, drought and flooding in Ethiopia.
 
The Little Sun Solar Lamp shape is based on the mescal flowers native to Ethiopia.  The lamp is German designed and engineered, manufactured in China.  One version of it features a USB port to facilitate charging cell phones, which are the primary technology for telecommunications in IDP sites.  A full charge takes 5 hours of sunlight, and lasts for 4 hours at high illumination and about 50 hours at the soft light setting.  The lamps are designed to last at least 5 years.
 
Little Sun Solar Lamps retail online via a Calgary organization, Beakerhead.  It currently sells for about $35 which pays for one lamp to use and another to donate.