Give the gift of light & help educate children

Stories from the Field

This month, we’re excited to share a powerful story from Zimbabwe, and updates from the Solomon Islands and The Gambia! 

Discover how StudentBuddy devices support childbirth, see JuniorBuddies bringing light to young learners, and get a peek behind the scenes at the final stages of our distribution journey. Dive in to see the incredible impact our partners are making worldwide! 

In a previous update, we shared how our StudentBuddy solar devices arrived in Zimbabwe to support our partners, Regain 37 and ZimbosAbantu Healthcare on Wheels. These devices were included in birthing kits to assist pregnant mothers and midwives during deliveries in remote areas. 

We’re thrilled to share some heartwarming news. 

In the early hours of October 15th, a baby boy was safely delivered at a solar-powered clinic in Ushewokunze, a settlement on the outskirts of Harare. Tawanda, the founder of our partner organisation, described that Ushewokunze is far frompublic hospitals, which are often closed outside normal hours, making healthcare access challenging – especially in the case of an emergency. 

Access to healthcare is a human right. Through mobile clinics, our partners are redefining access to public health delivery in Zimbabwe. Thank you to theZimbosAbantu and Regain37 team and healthcare professionals who provided this mother and newborn critical support in this life-changing moment. 

Solomon Islands Update

An update from the Save the Children team in the Solomon Islands! 

The team has been distributing JuniorBuddies across the Naro, Kusika and Vutu communities on Guadalcanal.

JuniorBuddies' Journey in The Gambia 

Each distribution is a collaborative effort that ensures every child receives their solar-powered light with care and attention. 

Here is a behind-the-scenes look at a JuniorBuddy distribution in The Gambia, and how they come together. 

The last mile distribution journey begins after the lights arrive in-country and clear customs. From there, we ensure that each JuniorBuddy passes a thorough quality control check before pairing it with a special letter for the child who will receive it. Once everything is ready, the lights are transported to the distribution location, where our partners teach the children how to use and maintain their new solar-powered companions. 

These incredible moments wouldn’t be possible without our in-country partners like ChildFund and Books for Africa, who help make every step of the journey a success. 

Thanks to their partnership, more children now have a reliable source of light to study, illuminating paths to education and opportunity.

We are endlessly appreciative of the support provided by our donors and advocates around the world. Thank you all for working alongside us to illuminate the lives of children to empower their futures. 

Simon Doble 
Founder and Chair