When the development sector labeled Kristine Pearson's idea of providing distance education via radio to girls, women, and children living-on-their-own a “nonstarter,” she persevered. She founded Lifeline Energy, and since 2003 it has distributed more than 215,000 Lifeline radios, reaching at least 10 million listeners, the majority whom are female.
Pearson has made a lifelong commitment to empower women and girls in Africa through appropriate technologies. Lifeline Energy improves the quality of the life for vulnerable groups by using dependable and environmentally friendly technologies.
During the past twelve years, Lifeline Energy has provided renewable energy alternatives, including a solar-powered and wind-up radio called Lifeline, and Lifelight, a solar powered, wind-up light-emitting diode (LED) light, to those who need them the most.
Pearson's idea and vision for the solar and wind-up Lifeline radio came from working with orphaned children in Rwanda. Now, Lifeline Energy works primarily in sub-Saharan Africa, where only 15 percent of the population has reliable access to modern energy, and radio remains unrivalled as the major medium of communication. In countries such as Rwanda, Lifeline Energy has helped vulnerable groups by distributing thousands of Lifeline radios to ensure they gain sustainable access to news and vital information.
This has helped women make better, more informed choices and decisions for themselves and their families now that they have ongoing access to programs about sexual and reproductive health, violence, peace and reconciliation, and economic development. Local and international programs broadcast in Kinyarwanda, the local language, which helps women feel connected to other communities.
Get ready to vote for the winning entries in the Women | Tools | Technology competition between June 2 and 16.
A group of women in Musanze, Rwanda, who were widowed mainly by the 1994 genocide, recently received a Lifeline radio. The association of 50 women, called Dukundumuriko (“we love the work”), weaves mats and baskets from unused rice sacks at a community center, five mornings a week. They spoke highly of their new radio and the access to information it brings.
"Before the radio we were ignorant," said Chantal, a Dukundumuriko member. “We didn’t know very much. When we came together, we only sang songs, gossiped, and speculated about what was going on. Now we are able to be smarter and we can discuss many issues about our rights, our bodies, and our country.
“Dukundumuriko women are both Hutu and Tutsi, but before we left many things unsaid. After listening to the radio we talk and discuss things more honestly,” she said.
“We want peace for our country and our children. But we know each Rwandan has to be peaceful themselves first. Our children go to school now and no longer think their mothers are stupid. We know our rights.
"We are starving to learn more and to build our skills. We believe as women, we are the future, and this is what we tell our daughters.”
Lifeline Energy is assessing both the power and limitations of conventional radio through end-user field research conducted with large number of child-headed families, and women such as the members of Chantal’s group. This has led to the development of Lifeline Energy’s latest innovative product: an MP3-enabled radio called the Lifeplayer.
Lifeplayer, which will be introduced in this year, combines a media player, radio, Internet and cell phone technologies, and is powered by solar and human (wind-up) energies. The Lifeplayer can be pre-loaded with up to 64 gigabytes of educational or informational content that can be paused and repeated as often as necessary.
"The Lifeplayer offers women and girls unprecedented options for desperately scarce educational and practical informational access, which will also enhance self-esteem and confidence," Pearson said. "It is often said that knowledge is power, and we believe that the more that women know, the more things will change, and the more personal power they will exercise in their families and communities.”
The Freeplay Foundation recently changed its name to Lifeline Energy to reflect its on-the-ground experience. "After working in the field for many years, the need for a variety of clean technologies to reduce dependency on fossil fuels and poor quality batteries became increasingly apparent," Pearson said. "We've broadened our energy poverty focus, and Lifeline Energy seemed like a good natural name and progression."
Although there was some initial skepticism about this technology in the development community, the Lifeline radio concept has brought Pearson and Lifeline many accolades. Lifeline won the first Tech Museum of Innovation Award in 2001. Pearson has been named a Schwab Foundation Fellow of the World Economic Forum, a lifetime fellow of the World Technology Network, was honored with the James C. Morgan Humanitarian Award, and recognized by TIME magazine as a Hero of the Environment.
Back to Story Overview <
