Kenyan children watch videos in a Solar Media tablet produced by Shenzhen-based Solar Run Energy Co. Ltd. (Solar Run) in this undated file photo. Courtesy of Solar Run

A Kenyan farmer checks sunflower growth by referring to contents in a Solar Media tablet in this undated file photo.

As mobile phones, desktop and laptop computers become more ubiquitous in daily life, another useful tool is a tablet computer, as it complements the aforementioned devices. In Kenya, a solar-powered tablet plays a more important role than most conventional tablets do. The tablet, named “Solar Media,” is made by a Shenzhen company and is preloaded with useful offline content. It has been helping people acquire skills to sustain or improve their lives, providing hope in the country’s rural and remote areas.

The idea

Officially launched in 2022, the relatively new Solar Media project came from Shenzhen Solar Run Energy Co. Ltd. (Solar Run). The company is no rookie in the solar energy industry and has rich experience both as a solar energy device manufacturer and solar energy solution provider since 2009.

“Candles Killer,” one of Solar Run’s products, boasts a considerable user base in Africa. It is a palm-sized solar-powered light that is brighter than candles or kerosene lamps. The light has been well received by people living in Africa’s off-grid regions due to its luminance, convenient size, affordablility (around US$5 per unit) and cost-efficient use in the long term.

“In the process of dealing with our buyers, especially those of ‘Candles Killer,’ we also dealt with several NGOs. We learned from them that in addition to providing lighting to households in Africa, they were also working on alleviating poverty among Africans,” Li Jinmeng, Solar Run’s marketing director, shared with Shenzhen Daily in a recent interview.

“Lighting up African households is only part of the solution. Giving Africans knowledge so they have choices to sustain their lives or have opportunities to improve their lives is more important. Although many NGOs have various services suitable for Africans, how to make information known to people living without electricity and internet proved to be a tough task. As a social enterprise focused on the African market, we began to think about what we could do to contribute to this cause.”

The project 

It took the company nearly two years to come up with their solution, Solar Media. Each Solar Media kit comes with a tablet, a solar panel charger and several LED bulbs that can light up when plugged in to the tablet. The tablet contains preloaded information such as health care, education, skills development and agriculture. 

“The tablet’s contents are provided by our local partners. They would select the information best suited to the local people’s needs and conditions, with local translations when needed,” Li told Shenzhen Daily. “Although the tablet is not made to connect to the internet, our distributors can update the information using flash disks.”

While Solar Media’s price is already lower than the vast majority of tablets available in the market, most families still cannot afford it since they have difficulty coming up with US$10 at one time. To make the product more accessible, Solar Run is partnering with international and local financial institutions to roll out an installment plan for its upcoming upgraded Solar Media tablet.

“With this service, our customers can apply for a payment plan of up to 24 months,” Li said. “Even if we’re a social enterprise, we still try to expand our sales because we also need to make profits. Beyond that, we believe that instead of constantly helping through donations, creating opportunities for people to buy what they need at a reasonable price will be more beneficial in the long run.”

The impact 

The project’s first and second phases were rolled out in September last year and June this year, respectively. Within a year, positive changes are already taking place in the lives of some Solar Media users. 

One beneficiary is Rehema Yusuf, who lives in a village in Mtito Andei, Kenya, with her three children. Yusuf once had no work and income. But with the tablet, she learned useful skills such as plaiting and shaving, which enabled her to earn some money to provide for her children. Yusuf now earns 100 Kenyan shillings (US$0.67) every time she does hairdressing for others, and takes home at least 1,000 shillings monthly. Her income now assists her in buying formula milk for her youngest child.

Patrick, a local farm supervisor, has used Solar Media to learn more about better ways to plant and harvest onions, and identify and treat various plant diseases. 

The additional agricultural knowledge he gained from Solar Media has helped him improve his farm’s yields. 

The list of stories on how Solar Media has helped lives will go on. There are plans for more phases under way, aiming to bring more knowledge and hope to more households in Africa.