Monday 1st May 2023 – In May 2023, floods and landslides hit Rwanda’s northern and western provinces, resulting in a tragic loss of lives and property. As the government rushed to save the lives of those trapped and resettle hundreds, local government officials reached out to anyone who could offer support.
In Musasa Sector, Rutsiro District, Western Province, officials had managed to secure a building to house several families with the help of a local cooperative. Numerous families were accommodated in the facility and provided with mattresses, blankets, and food since they had lost everything. While they were glad to have a semblance of their life restored, one challenge remained: there was no electricity in the building because the area is off-grid.
At Bboxx’s head office in Kigali, management was already assessing the number of customers who might have been affected by the floods to determine what assistance could be provided. The company’s local team in Rutsiro reported that while accommodation and other basics were being provided by the local government, residents were living in the dark due to a lack of electricity. Bboxx saw this as an opportunity to assist. Solar panels, lights, batteries, and torches were quickly installed, and that night electricity was provided.
“As a responsible and compassionate organization, we believe in standing by our communities when they need us the most. When torrential rains struck, we quickly mobilized our resources and personnel to provide immediate relief to the affected areas. Our primary focus was to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents and work closely with local authorities, relief organizations, and community leaders to coordinate our efforts effectively, Bboxx Managing Director John Uwizeye.
“We are truly grateful to Bboxx for standing with us. Such acts restore hope in our residents whose homes have been destroyed,” Ndayikeshe, the site manager and Head of Social affairs in Musasa sector.
This intervention precedes a newly signed partnership between Bboxx and Bralirwa to provide solar electricity to 59 additional homes in Ngororero District, also in Western Rwanda. The 59 homes were selected in partnership with the district authorities, and installations are expected to be completed by the end of this month (June 2023).
“We believe in promoting sustainable practices and enhancing our social impact in the communities we serve,” Etienne Saada, Bralirwa’s Managing Director. “We are excited to announce our partnership with Bboxx Rwanda to provide renewable energy to 59 off-grid homes in the Ngororero district!”
This collaboration will not only improve the local community’s quality of life, but it will also reduce CO2 emissions.
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About Bboxx
Bboxx is a data-driven super platform, transforming lives and unlocking potential by connecting consumers and deploying innovative products across Africa.
Bboxx is championing the economic empowerment of Africa, accelerating the transition to the digital economy and creating new markets. We have built Bboxx Pulse®, a fully integrated operating system, and combined it with an extensive on-the-ground network to connect customers with clean energy, clean cooking, smartphones, e-mobility and selected financial products – many for the first time.
We are connecting both underserved rural communities and aspiring urban ones with a highly convenient and affordable way to access life-changing solutions, through last mile logistics and data-powered innovative financing methods. We offer our services on a pay-as-you-go basis to households, businesses, and communities, enabling African consumers to unlock their potential.
We build strategic partnerships with investors, utilities providers, global companies, and governments to accelerate growth and provide a wide range of products to consumers in Africa. Our partners are seizing a massive market opportunity by plugging into Bboxx – developed through green tech and big data and designed for scale.
Following the successful acquisition of solar energy frontrunner PEG Africa in 2022, Bboxx is now positively impacting the lives of more than 3.5 million people in 10 operating markets, directly contributing to 11 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Bboxx and its group of companies is one of the largest networks in Africa, with over 4,000 staff across Africa and offices in the UK and Asia.
For more information please contact:
Bboxx / Impact and Influence
Email: bboxx@impactandinfluence.global
Contact:
Nicholas Moore
nicholas@impactandinfluence.global
+44 7527 695154
