Philips 2009 Annual Report Download - page 47

3 Our planet, our partners, our people 3.3 - 3.3
Philips Annual Report 2009 47
Let there be light
We are making affordable, high-quality
energy-efficient lighting available to
people living without electricity.
To meet the basic need for lighting it is essential that governments and
international institutions, NGOs and companies like Philips work together.
That’s why we have a public-private partnership with the Dutch government.
Known as SESA (Sustainable Energy Solutions for Africa), this initiative is
designed to provide affordable, appropriate and sustainable energy-saving
solutions to off-grid consumers in sub-Saharan Africa. We also support projects
with NGOs like World Vision and Light Up The World (LUTW).
We presented our Uday Mini Solar lantern in September to the Dutch
government as part of our SESA program. Developed in India, this robust
product features enhanced battery and lamp life, fast battery charging and
portability – all based on insights from rural consumers. The first SESA pilot was
launched in Ghana and is slated for completion in early 2010, with roll-out to
other sub-Saharan countries including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Mali.
Lighting for literacy
World Vision distributed the Uday Mini as part of its initiative to provide girls in
deprived outskirts of Bangalore, India, with access to education and literacy
training – cornerstones of women’s development. And as the largest supporter
of LUTW to date, we are helping provide solar lighting for learning and literacy
programs in developing countries. LUTW helped us test solar reading solutions
in Sierra Leone and Honduras, providing valuable input to develop an optimal
lighting solution for education in off-grid areas. More than 10,000 people in total
now have access to solar lighting thanks to the LUTW-Philips collaboration.