The Electrica Foundation announces the successful implementation of the first stage of the project “Children’s energy, the light of the future!”. On the eve of the Easter holidays, the first batch of solar lamps was distributed to approximately 800 children from households affected by extreme energy poverty, from six localities in Satu Mare County: Andrid, Săuca, Tășnad, Craidorolț, Racșa and Turț.
The action was carried out in partnership with Distribuție Energie Electrică Romania, the distribution operator within the Electrica Group, with the support of local mayors, in ethnically diverse communities of Romanians, Hungarians and Roma, being the first stage of a large-scale program at national level. The project aims to provide children from disadvantaged, isolated communities with a safe and accessible source of light, in order to contribute to reducing school dropout and improving the living conditions of their families.
“Meeting these children was incredibly moving! I saw their curious and joyful looks when they received the “Fireflies” lamp and learned the story behind it. It is difficult to express in words how much a ray of light means to them, literally and figuratively. And the light that we brought now, before the Easter holiday, carries with it the hope of a new beginning and real changes. Last but not least, we thank the local authorities for the support and openness they have shown, thanks to which we were able to reach these communities and get closer to the stories of these children. I firmly believe that such initiatives, in which companies, organizations and public institutions collaborate, are an example of good practice and hope for the future,” said Marilena Nedelcu, president of the Electrica Foundation.
The solar lamps, symbolically called “Fireflies”, are designed to be easy to use and energy efficient. These allow children to continue their studies and daily activities even after dark, eliminating the risks associated with traditional unsafe and polluting sources, such as gas lamps or candles. The project thus aims to promote the importance of sustainable solutions to combat energy poverty.
“Through the “Children’s Energy, the Light of the Future!” project, we are taking concrete steps in the fight against energy poverty. We want every child to be able to study and live in decent conditions, access to energy being an essential right and an important element in the development of any modern society. This initiative complements the Electrica Group’s strategic vision in terms of sustainability and social responsibility and is an expression of our commitment to the communities in which we operate,” added Alexandru Chiriță, CEO of Electrica.
“Children’s Energy, the Light of the Future!” is the first initiative of the Electrica Foundation and has as its main objective supporting children from communities affected by extreme energy poverty. According to the Romanian Energy Poverty Observatory, two out of ten households in Romania consume energy well below the national average, and over 4,700 children live in homes without access to electricity. The project aims to distribute over 5,000 solar lamps to children in affected households and will be implemented in several stages targeting communities across the country. The first counties included are Satu Mare, Alba, Bistrița-Năsăud and Suceava.
Launched in the middle of last year, the foundation focuses on implementing projects aimed at improving the lives of people from vulnerable social categories and contributing to the well-being of local communities, with an emphasis on areas such as education, health, environmental protection and combating energy poverty.
