Every night, when the sun goes down, more than one billion people around the world are plunged into total darkness.
For many of us, flipping on a light is second nature. But for families living in extreme poverty, darkness brings danger, lost opportunity, and hopelessness. Without light, education stalls, entrepreneurship fades, and economic freedom slips further out of reach. Darkness isn’t just the absence of light — it’s the presence of barriers.
The True Cost of Darkness
Without reliable access to electricity, many families rely on kerosene lamps or battery-powered flashlights, which are costly and unsafe. In some communities, families spend up to 30 percent of their income on light sources that pollute the air and strain their finances. The result? They are forced to sacrifice essentials like food, healthcare, and education for light, trapping them in an endless cycle of poverty.
But what if that money could be saved and reinvested in opportunity?
Light + Financial Literacy = Freedom
Watts of Love, a nonprofit based in Downers Grove, Illinois, is tackling this issue at its roots by reimagining light as a catalyst for economic freedom. They distribute solar lights paired with a unique financial literacy training program that is designed to help families save, earn, and intentionally invest their newfound resources.
Independent research shows that when people have access to reliable light, they increase their working hours, improve educational outcomes, and develop sustainable income streams. In remote regions, a simple solar light can spark generational change.
Lighting the Way: Daisy’s Story
Daisy, a Haitian mother of two, once spent her limited income on candles. She had little hope for the future and was skeptical about the power of Watts of Love’s program when they visited her community.
Regardless, she redirected her savings towards rearing livestock after receiving a solar light and financial education, and it has completely transformed her life. Within a year, she created a thriving business selling her herd and their byproducts, enabling her to pay school fees for her children and build emergency savings for the first time.
Daisy’s journey is just one example of how solar light and knowledge fuel transformation. When people are equipped with tools, knowledge, and belief in their potential, they don’t just survive — they thrive.
A Model of Sustainable, Global Impact
Financial inclusion is a proven driver of reducing inequality and boosting shared prosperity, but formal financial systems often overlook individuals in rural or underserved areas. Watts of Love bridges this gap, helping overlooked individuals gain visibility and agency through the power of love, learning, and light.
Watts of Love has distributed solar lights and financial literacy training in 55 countries, helping families improve their safety, savings, and self-sufficiency. The organization tracks measurable outcomes that demonstrate the broader impact of its model.
- 149,200+ solar lights distributed
- 1,044,400+ lives impacted
- 7 people impacted on average by each light
- 30% average increase in household income
- $23.1 million saved annually on lighting costs
- 69.8 million fewer batteries used per year
- 65.6 million pounds of CO₂ emissions avoided annually
- 326.7 million additional hours of productivity per year
- 35.8 million more hours available for studying each year
These figures reflect the potential for long-term benefits when clean energy and basic financial tools are made accessible in underserved communities.
How to Help
Watts of Love is on a mission to empower 35,000 more families this year with the gift of light and financial education. You can help illuminate the path forward in a variety of ways:
Learn: Explore their model and impact at wattsoflove.org.
- Partner: Donate to Watts of Love or join one of their Global Travel Teams to help bring their program to new communities and drive sustainable change.
- Share: Amplify stories of energy poverty to raise awareness about the power of safe light and financial freedom.
In the fight against poverty, light and love are powerful tools. Together, we can help families write a new story that is powered by hope, opportunity, and lasting change.
