Panasonic and World Vision Launch Off-grid Solutions Project in Narok County, Kenya

Nairobi, Kenya / Osaka, Japan - January 31, 2019 - World Vision and Panasonic Corporation have launched an Off-grid Solutions Project in Narok County, Kenya. Panasonic has donated power supply stations, solar storage devices, solar lanterns and other lighting equipment at the launching ceremony held on January 31, 2019, in Ilkimati community in Narok.

This Off-grid Solutions Project is one of Panasonic's corporate social responsibility initiatives that are aimed at celebrating the centennial of the company's founding. This project is intended for communities in Asia and Africa with a large off-grid population, where Panasonic works with NGOs that are making efforts to address social issues. In Kenya, World Vision implements this two-year project as the partner organization (To learn more about the project: http://panasonic.net/sustainability/en/power/solution/).

The project will bring solar powered electricity to an area of Narok County that is not connected to the national power grid. According to the Kenya Population and Housing Census, 22.7% of households countrywide are connected to the national electricity grid. In Narok County, however, only 5.6% of households are covered.

Specifically, the new project has provided two solar stations and lighting equipment for Ilkimati Primary School and Enkutoto dispensary. They have also received solar storage devices. In addition, Panasonic has donated solar lanterns to 150 households in the community. This will improve the wellbeing of children and communities in this remote area.

To enhance the sustainability of the project, the beneficiaries will be trained on basic knowledge of electricity and the system, and the maintenance of the equipment by the project.

Once the solar powered electricity is rolled out in the area, World Vision will support the community to run income generating activities such as poultry farming and school gardening that will be fully equipped with solar powered drip irrigation kits. They will also initiate reading camps - making use of the solar lighting system - to improve literacy competencies for both children and adults.

Moreover, the provision of solar lanterns as alternatives to the kerosene ones will improve the health status of the Ilkimati community by shielding them from indoor air pollution.

The solar technologies will provide the community with opportunities for diversifying their income generating activities and venturing into new areas such as fruit and vegetable cultivation and poultry farming using a chicken egg incubator. In addition, the availability of electricity will enable people to extend their working hours thus increasing family incomes.

Since 2006, World Vision has been running a long-term development programme in Narok County (Ilaramatak) that seeks to improve the education, health, nutrition and wellbeing of children in the area. The Programme targets a population of 4,443 adults and 6,919 children.

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About World Vision

World Vision is an international Christian humanitarian organisation that is dedicated to working with children, families and communities worldwide. It empowers communities to reach their full potential by addressing causes of poverty and injustices affecting them.
The organisation partners with communities, governments, sponsors, donors and corporates to realise its global strategy, Our Promise 2030, which aims at building brighter futures for vulnerable children worldwide.

World Vision's Strategic Goal (2016-2020) in Kenya, is to contribute to increased protection, participation and well-being of 2.6 million most vulnerable children and 14 million children, through policy influence by 2020. To learn more about World Vision's work in Kenya: https://www.wvi.org/kenya

About Panasonic

Panasonic Corporation is a worldwide leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, and B2B businesses. The company, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018, has expanded globally and now operates 591 subsidiaries and 88 associated companies worldwide, recording consolidated net sales of 7.982 trillion yen for the year ended March 31, 2018. Committed to pursuing new value through innovation across divisional lines, the company uses its technologies to create a better life and a better world for its customers.
To learn more about Panasonic, visit http://www.panasonic.com/global.
Off-grid Solutions Project http://panasonic.net/sustainability/en/power/

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World Vision Kenya
Communications Manager
May Ondeng
Email: may_ondeng@wvi.org
Phone: +254 712 267 655