Giving Compass' Take:

• Flip the Switch is a documentary about "Solar Mamas:" women from developing countries training to become solar engineers. 

• How will this documentary shed light on broader issues of access to electricity and innovation within developing countries?  

• Read about why we should fund women and girls and their untapped potential. 

On Tuesday, April 30, law firm Hogan Lovells and social enterprise Barefoot College International partner with Impact New York to feature Flip the Switch, a 30-minute documentary, at IPIC New York City. The film follows the journey of the “Solar Mamas” – women from developing countries who have been trained as solar engineers. It also explores the importance of shared value partnerships in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Flip the Switch has received critical acclaim and to date has been awarded official selection status at ten international film festivals.

Throughout the world 1.1 billion people are living without power. The majority of these people live in developing countries, in villages that have no other form of light beside natural light. According to official data, only 7.3% of India’s villages have complete household connectivity, and the World Bank reports that over 300 million Indians are still living in the dark, even though 200 million of them are from villages that are thought to have electricity. Once the sun goes down, these people cannot work or learn – making personal and economic growth exceedingly difficult. Furthermore, many homes use kerosene lamps, which produce high levels of air pollution. This affects the health of hundreds of millions, with women being particularly at risk as they suffer from smoke inhalation from cooking.

Once the Solar Mamas have learned to build, install, and maintain solar panels and batteries in their communities, they also have the opportunity to learn entrepreneurial skills. As a result, the Solar Mamas program opens doors for other possibilities that can dramatically enhance the lives of women, their families, and their communities.

Read the full article about Flip The Switch by Api Podder at My Social Good News.