For decades, Haiti has struggled to provide its people with the needed supply of energy. Since the 2010 Hurricane devastated the island nation, the supply of energy for lighting has suffered further reduction.  Today, a major American company has announced a plan to help illuminate the island.

According to USAID, Haiti’s power sector is one of the weakest in the Western Hemisphere, with 8 million people who have no access to electricity.  Prior to the earthquake in 2010, only an estimated 25 percent of the population had access to electricity.   Still today, the majority of homes with electricity do not have a regular flow of electricity meaning 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  The average person living in Port-au-Prince, the capital of Haiti, only has access to electricity for 10 hours per day.

The Western Union Company and its partners are announcing the launch of ‘Klere Ayiti,’ meaning ‘Light Up.’  This initiative will allow the Haitian diaspora the opportunity to fund a solar lamp kit for their families and friends living in Haiti, offering their loved ones a chance to read, work and feel safe after dark.

The ‘Klere Ayiti’ initiative was designed to address Haiti’s energy struggle.  Haiti is a country blessed with sun almost every day of the year; therefore, solar energy is a realistic solution for its people.  The solar lamp initiative gives Haitians living outside of Haiti an affordable way to provide their families and friends that remain in Haiti with sustainable energy.

Sean Mason, Vice president for Western Union in the Caribbean said: “We are very pleased to be part of such an important initiative to our customers in Haiti. Western Union is a purpose-driven brand, a company with positive social impact at its core.  The Klere Ayiti initiative is a real life example of Western Union’s Moving Money for Better.”