Govinda Uphadyay winner of EIT Change award
LEDsafari founder Govinda Upadhyay has won the prestigious European Institute for Innovation and Technology (EIT) "Change" award for his outstanding efforts to make safe, sustainable and affordable solar light available to thousands of children who are hindered in their studies by lacking or insufficient access to clean light.
While travelling in Indian rural areas, Govinda Upadhyay observed that many social problems could be solved if local people were involved in the development process. Confronted with the high cost of light in non-electrified areas, he therefore decided to develop a simple, low cost do-it-yourself solar lamp as well as a training concept using real life analogies and hands-on experience to explain the technology in simple terms. Lamp building courses were soon organised in India as well as in several African countries in collaboration with local organisations.
The experience he and his team have gathered in the meantime is more than conclusive as numerous solar lamps of all shapes have been created by students of all ages, and scores of people have received training to train others to build lamps tailored to their needs.
The PhD student at the EPFL Solar Energy and Building Physics Laboratory and holder of a KIC InnoEnergy Select Master does not plan to stop there. His target is that children both in developed and in developing countries learn about solar technology by building their own lamps from a kit and recycled materials.
LEDSafari training continues in several countries in collaboration with local organisations and schools. Other sustainable technologies could be tought and transferred in a similar way. Govinda Upadhyay strongly believes that by sharing and providing knowledge we can overcome extreme poverty significantly faster. He and his team have amply proven their capacity to convert this vision into reality.