From Artist To Powerful Entrepreneur - Akon Lighting Africa

USPA NEWS - The Akon Lighting Africa seeks to provide a concrete response at grass roots level to Africa´s energy crisis and lay the foundations for future development. Launched in February 2014 by international music star, Akon, leader Thione Niang and entrepreneur Samba Bathily.

In far too many parts of Africa, night-time economic activities are practically non-existent. Women cannot make productive use of their time to carry out the most basic household tasks. Children who help the women cannot study at night without proper light and complete their homework by candle light. So Akon Lighting Africa initiative aims to develop an innovative solar-powered solution that will provide African villages with access to a clean and affordable source of electricity.

In less than one year, they have been installed in 14 African countries and as a result, a number of households, villages, community houses, schools and health centres located in rural areas have been connected to electricity for the first time ever.

Local jobs, primarily for young people, have also been created in these communities, whether for installation of equipment´s or for maintenance.The Akon Lighting Africa initiative has brightened 14 countries in just one year and plans to launch campaigns in an additional 11 countries by the end of 2016. ALA plans to help light all of Africa by 2020. Without access to electricity, over 3.5 million Africans die every year from harmful pollutants or fires in the home produced by costly and toxic solid. Akon Lighting Africa on the rebuilding of Africa.