Join us in elevating the voices of SolarSPELL communities around the world!

Khotso... Takulandirani... Mauya... Welcome!

If you are reading this, it is because you have access to the internet and the required skills to locate, evaluate, and use the information to engage with our funding page in a way that works for you. 

But access to the internet, and all the information it houses, is not universal.

Nearly 2.7 billion people around the world either have never been able to access the internet or do not have stable, reliable access to electricity that allows for sustainable engagement with the internet. In developing countries, in particular, information can be challenging to access, resulting in many of these communities being disproportionately disconnected from the internet and having fewer opportunities to (1) develop digital literacy skills, (2) access online learning tools and resources, and (3) explore various professional and educational opportunities. 

Our documentary, Sunflower Kids: a documentary on SolarSPELL, focuses on grassroots approaches to development and explores the complex relationship between access to information, information literacy, and the empowerment of learners. 

SolarSPELL is a rugged, solar-powered education learning library that aims to increase access to locally relevant resources that can be used in communities with little to no access to electricity. Along with easy-to-use, appropriate technologies and localized information, the SolarSPELL Initiative works to create an ecosystem of knowledge exchange by partnering and building long-term relationships with in-country partners.  

In the Spring of 2023, in partnership with the Peace Corps and community organizations, SolarSPELL will be implementing three new SolarSPELL digital libraries in education, health, and agriculture in Lesotho, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, respectively. Building on the ongoing strategic partnership between the SolarSPELL Initiative and stakeholders, Information as Freedom will follow SolarSPELL users and partners in their skills development and capacity-building journey. This film will consist of three parts, each featuring stories about real-life experiences, individual achievements, and what it means to define hopes and dreams not only for individuals, families, communities, and the world. 

Sunflower Kids is on a mission to raise the voices of:

Individuals working to change global and local education systems, 

Leaders who believe in the freedoms that come with access to quality education,

Activists fighting to empower the next generation of learners, and

Learners participating in the education revolution- happening right now!

This is why we are calling on you: friends, family, and community! 

We welcome you to join our team as we elevate the voices of learners, educators, and community leaders worldwide who are eager to share their stories, hopes, and dreams.