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International Day of Light 2020: Electrifying rural mountain communities

15.05.2020

The International Day of Light, an annual celebration held every 16 May, is a UNESCO-declared day to appreciate light and the role it plays in science, culture, art, education, sustainable development and more. On this day, we feature one Mountain Partnership member doing their part to spread light to even the most remote places through clean energy: Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE).

GHE is a social impact initiative in India that combines development initiatives, including establishing sustainable infrastructures, with a focus on providing clean energy, education and leadership, while also leveraging adventure tourism as a means to create a positive social impact. GHE focuses on reaching out to marginalized communities living in remote parts of India’s Himalayan belt, such as the Ladakh Region in northern India, to promote sustainable and inclusive progress. Providing energy access is a means to initiate further development in these regions. Their overall aim is to foster a holistic ecosystem of self–sufficiency and sustainable development in the Himalayan region through setting up microgrids.

Paras Loomba, Founder of GHE, says, “Mountains have been the mother source for the existence of all life on our planet and home to the extraordinary, resilient communities that have flourished over generations through their sustainable ways of living and building rich heritage. GHE's mission to provide clean energy access to these communities has been the guiding force that has enabled multifold impacts to bolster the sustainable ecosystem of development initiatives in digital education, ecotourism, health and agriculture. Lighting up just one room of a house has transformed dreams of many into reality. We all need to come together and think of these communities in our every action because eventually mountains matter.”

In 2019, GHE electrified its 100th Himalayan village and expanded to four regions globally. Over the year, they electrified 38 villages - from high-altitude villages in the mountains of Ladakh to the remote jungles of Meghalaya. GHE also electrified seven heritage sights with solar power, reviving the ancient heritage of centuries-old monasteries.

Last year alone, GHE was able to impact more than 13 000 lives. Participating communities now have access to more reliable and sustainable energy. Access to energy acts as a foundation on which other layers of intervention are built that further creates opportunities for income generation.

“We always used to hope that maybe one day we will also get electricity. The GHE women engineers came to our village and in just two days there was light in each and every room,” said Ldumbur villager Tsetan Angmo. “The streetlight was so bright we didn’t sleep the first night. I am assured of a brighter future for our community.”

Not only does GHE changes lives, but they also benefit the environment. In 2019, their activities allowed for 320 tonnes of CO2 to be offset every year. This is the result of the elimination of kerosene oil lamps and fossil fuels for lighting, which also improves human health in these mountain communities.

Read more about GHE's Solar Energy Impact

Read more about the International Day of Light

News and photo from the Global Himalayan Expedition (GHE)