Shelton Nyakundi, an 18-year-old student at the Menengai boarding school in Nakuru, Kenya, believes one simple thing could make the difference between the academic success and failure of many pupils: light.  Nyakundi says to save money, his school switches off its inefficient incandescent lights at 10 p.m. depriving students of valuable studying time. “Right now, lack of light is a limiting factor, both in the evenings and in the mornings,” says Nyakundi, who wants to work in healthcare when he graduates. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) C...

Philips recently announced that it will build 19 "Community Light Centers" throughout Kenya by 2015. These Community Light Centers are areas of about 1000 square meters as large as a small football pitch, being lit up by using solar powered LED lighting. Philips East Africa Director Roeloi Assies, who made the announcement, said that the activity of building Community Light Centers aims at creating areas of bright light for people who live in rural communities without electricity, thus they can do social, sports and economic activities in the evening. He al...