In Rwanda, schools — especially those located in remote areas or in difficult terrain — lack access to reliable necessities like power.
This makes tools like the internet difficult, if not impossible, to access, keeping students from vital educational tools.
In an effort to provide those educational prerequisites, a collaboration between the Rwandan Ministries of Information and Communications Technology & Education and Ignite Power may significantly close the digital divide.
This partnership will provide universal access to power and internet connectivity for students in Rwanda through solar power.
The project uses Ignite Power’s new product, LinX, which features solar-based satellite terminals that don’t require the use of the country’s national electricity grid. This means the terminals can be deployed quickly and affordably, connecting students to life-changing energy — no matter their location.
“We are pleased to launch this disruptive partnership with a leading private-sector company such as Ignite Power,” Paula Ingabire, the Minister of ICT, said in a press release.
“This collaboration signifies our commitment to ensuring that every citizen, especially students, has equal opportunity to thrive in an increasingly digital world.”
Ignite Power — and solar power in general — have already had a great impact on Rwanda.
The company has previously connected over one million people across the country to power through advanced solar systems.
In fact, this new academic partnership comes a week after Ignite Power earned the 2023 Zayed Prize for energy, which honors small enterprises, nonprofits, and global high schools with impactful and sustainable solutions.
Similarly, solar power has been used to improve water systems in the area, through other partnerships with organizations like UNICEF, World Vision, and the private sector’s Rwanda Water and Sanitation Corporation.
It’s clear that clean energy is not only a win for the planet — but for the lives of everyday people.
“Internet connectivity has evolved into a basic infrastructure and human right in today’s world,” Yariv Cohen, the CEO of Ignite Power, said in a press release. “This initiative sets a precedent for comprehensive, equitable, and sustainable development across Rwanda and beyond.”
Header images courtesy of Ignite Power
