El Progresso, January 2013
Faith UCC in New Braunfels Changes 1000 Lives with The Grid Earth Project
Thanks to the gracious gifts of Faith UCC, 135 homes received a solar household lamp from the Grid Earth Project. Through the generosity of Faith UCC in New Braunfels, Texas a Village known as El Progresso with a population of approximately 1000 people, took a 150 year leap into the future in one day. Prior to receiving their solar lamps from the Grid Earth Project, the people of El Progresso were primarily dependent upon kerosene for light and in some cases only candles. These are not only poor sources of light, they are dangerous and toxic. Unfortunately most of those using them do not know it, and have little choice. This happens to be the case for almost 2 billion people worldwide. It is the cause of 2.5 million deaths each year, most are children under the age of 14.
Those that have grown up breathing kerosene fumes and have significantly higher respiratory problems that people who live in developed areas on the electrical grid. In fact it is the number one cause of death in children under 5 year of age living in undeveloped areas.
The Grid Earth Projects mission is to save lives, improve health, promote education and economic opportunity. Case studies have confirmed that in areas where safe solar LED light has replaced kerosene and candles, burn injuries have dramatically decreased, and reading scores of school children have consistently increased.
Light, which makes basic human productivity, is taken for granted by billions of people worldwide. But for the rest it's not just a necessity; it's the most expensive thing they buy. The savings from not purchasing kerosene will enable these families to greatly improve the quality of their lives.
The 1000 lives that were touched by receiving this gift of light will never be the same. Thank you Faith UCC, you have forever changed the lives of the residents of El Progresso.
