Global forced displacement has surpassed 80 million people.
Climate change, war, conflict, economic challenges and persecution force 1 in every 97 people to leave their homes, few of which to ever return.
That’s why today, in partnership with TechFugees, we’re launching “Knowledge is Freedom” a campaign aimed at bringing free education and energy to over a million people living in refugee camps around the world.
The campaign was inspired by the words of our own CSO, Vanessa Arelle, who told an audience at a Techfugees conference earlier this year:
“Knowledge is Power. Power is Freedom. Freedom is a Right.”
Together with the incredible team at TechFugees, we’re playing our small part in helping elevate the voices of displaced people by launching a campaign to deploy BuffaloGrid Hubs in refugee camps in East Africa and the Middle East.
The Kakuma refugee camp and Kalobeyei settlement in the desert of north-western Kenya. Just one location BuffaloGrid Hubs will be deployed if the campaign is successful. Photo: UN Women/Ryan Brown
The initial service will see solar-powered BuffaloGrid Hubs deployed in refugee camps across Kenya and Uganda. The BuffaloGrid Hubs will provide free access to education and health content, other streaming services and free solar-powered charging. for phones and other devices.
A BuffaloGrid Hub on deployment in India. Photo: Naveen Chandrakar/BuffaloGrid (2019)
Raj Burman, Chief Executive Officer at Techfugees Innovation commented on the project, saying “In an increasingly digital and climate change stricken world, our mission is to make sure forcibly displaced people don’t get left behind.
“Around 400,000 marginalised refugees reside in the Rwamwanja and Kakuma-Kalobeyei settlements camp in Uganda and Kenya respectively”,
“Our collaboration with BuffaloGrid presents a unique opportunity for an innovative responsible digital solution to empower displaced communities with the support of our Chapters in Kenya and Uganda to overcome the access barriers to education and health content to better their livelihoods.
“Our teams on the ground engage displaced communities and are currently sourcing content partners to facilitate deployment of BuffaloGrid hubs for the initial pilot.
Current solutions for charging devices can be dangerous and ineffective. Photo: Sarine Arslanian
BuffaloGrid’s CEO, Daniel Becerra, added: “Our mission is to remove barriers for internet adoption and provide the next billion with information, energy and digital skills. I hope this campaign will raise awareness of the plight of displaced people and how collectively we have the power to change things.
"The entire team is excited to work with Techfugees. I believe together we have the technical expertise, experience and connections to make a real difference.”
Today’s announcement builds on our work to remove internet adoption barriers for unconnected communities globally, providing free power to charge mobile devices, digital content and services.
Follow our journey on Twitter and be part of our mission by joining us on Crowdcube.