World Refugee Day: First solar-powered refugee camp connects Syrian refugee families to a brighter future

For two and a half years, Azraq refugee camp in Jordan had no electricity. In winter, the 54,000 Syrian refugees here lived in complete darkness for nearly half the day. Families had a small solar lantern to study or work by, but its light would die after a few hours. In summer, when temperatures soar to 40 degrees Centigrade in the shade, food spoiled almost immediately, forcing families to walk several kilometres to the market in the scorching heat every day.

Pitch-dark nights left people—particularly women and girls—feeling too unsafe to walk to the toilets at the ends of their streets. Children and adolescents grew bored without entertainment, and families struggled to connect with their loved-ones abroad or keep up on news from Syria. Parents worried that their youngest children were growing up seeing only the desert’s beige dirt and dust, with no idea what a tree or grass looked like. And mothers, who do the bulk of the household chores, found their time eaten up by handwashing clothes rather than playing with their kids; instead of finding joy in watching their children play outside, they felt frustrated because they knew that dirty clothes meant hours of manual labour.

“If I should explain to someone who has electricity what life is like without it, well, it is like living in a different century,” explains Asmahan, a 30-year-old woman with four young children. “It is very tiring.”

https://youtu.be/BfVbB2zZBdk

Renewable energy brings a new sense of power

Thanks to the Brighter Lives for Refugees campaign, the IKEA Foundation granted the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) funding to bring light and renewable energy to hundreds of thousands of refugees in Asia, Africa and the Middle East.

One of those programmes is building renewable energy projects in Azraq refugee camp. These projects are providing more than electrical power; they are helping refugee families rediscover their own powers—such as the power to nurture a newborn baby.

Every week, around 25 babies are born in the camp. Two years ago, Asmahan gave birth to her son Raad here and brought him home to a dark shelter.

“I used to suffer, waking up in the dark,” she recalls. “Our battery light would die out before midnight. Sometimes I could not give him medication.”

This year, just after their shelter got power, she had another son, Khaled. The difference is like night and day. “There was electricity, lights and television. I can get up any time to prepare milk, change diapers or give medication.”

solar-powered-azraq-refugee-camp-family

Asmahan sits with three of her four children—Shukran (8), Almar (6) and Khaled (6 weeks). For over two years, their shelter in Azraq refugee camp didn’t have electricity. Now it does, and electricity is brightening the family’s life in many ways.

Parenting changed in other ways, too. “Managing my children became easier,” she explains. “Now I can say, ‘Finish your homework and then you can watch TV,’ because my daughters always want to watch TV. The electricity made my children’s education better. During the wintertime, I could not help my daughter Shoukran with her homework because of the short daylight. Without electricity so much time got lost. Now I can help her any time.”

She smiles. “Another life for me.”

Solar power creates new jobs and security

The first phase of the IKEA Foundation-funded project enabled UNHCR to install solar street lights, giving Asmahan, her daughters and others a sense of security when they visit friends or the toilet blocks at night.

In the second phase, UNHCR contracted a Jordanian renewable energy company, which hired refugees living in the camp to build a solar farm. Ali, who was an Arabic teacher back in Syria, is one of them. Not only did he learn a new, marketable skill, but he also rediscovered his power to provide for his family and community.

“In the beginning I came as a volunteer, but they paid me,” he explains. “We were fairly and satisfactorily paid. My job has created opportunities for me to take care of my family. At the same time, I am very happy I have been doing something good for our community.

“Financially, morally, socially, we all benefit on all levels,” he says.

solar-powered-azraq-refugee-camp-workers

Ali, front, taught Arabic to children in Syria but was hired as an electrician to help build the solar farm. “My profession is far from electricity,” he says, “so I learned a new thing.”
Nisreen, an English teacher and writer, owns an electrical appliance shop with her husband, Samer. She has noticed a big difference in the camp’s commercial life since families started getting electricity in their shelters. “People started to trade, bought washing machines and fridges. When summer comes, people will need more fans.

“We hope the market will grow,” she continues. “It will support the people of the camp, create more jobs and bring more money. People would feel like they are part of a complete society.”

Kids get the power to play, study, dream…and eat ice cream

In the same marketplace where Nisreen and Samer run their shop, a man sells ice cream to dozens of children who just got out of school for the day. The treat keeps them cool in the late-afternoon sunshine. They pull out mobile phones and play games, a way for their educations to continue beyond the few hours they spend in the classroom. On their phones, they can see trees, even if only virtual ones.

solar-powered-azraq-refugee-camp-children
Children cool down with an ice cream after school.

Amenah, a mother of five, says, “A lot of children wanted to see the world around, especially the youngest ones and the ones born in the camp, who do not know the world outside. Now the outside world will be known for them.”

Right now, half of the camp’s 54,000 residents have power, but UNHCR plans to extend it to the rest of the camp over the coming year. In January, when thousands of shelters were connected to the national grid, UNHCR started paying a hefty electricity bill every month. Now that the solar farm is online, the energy it produces will reduce the camp’s electricity bill to zero, and UNHCR will be able to spend that money on other projects that make life in the camp more dignified and that help young people prepare for a brighter future.

Partner

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency
https://www.unhcr.org/

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  • The IKEA Foundation supports @goglassociation to strengthen and develop the global industry around Productive Use of Renewable Energy (#PURE). Their #PuttingSolar2Work series highlights the benefits that renewable energy can bring to people like Doreen Njoroge. 

Doreen is a mother of three from rural Kenya. In 2022, she adopted an Agsol solar-powered micro-mill, which has not only reduced costs and saved time but also provided her community with cleaner flour. Her story illustrates the potential of #OffGridSolar technology to foster opportunities and resilience. 🌽 🌍

By #PuttingSolar2Work, smallholder farmers aren't just enhancing their businesses but also becoming agents of climate action and economic growth.

🔗 Visit our link in bio to learn more. 

*Image credit to Agsol/GOGLA.

#IKEAFoundation #GOGLA #RenewableEnergy
  • We’re partnering with @thecirculateinitiative to support the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in Kenya and India. This collaboration will help improve the livelihoods of waste workers and increase the responsible sourcing of recycled plastics.

Through training and skills development, the initiative aims to:

✅ Support 500+ waste enterprises.
✅ Generate 100,000 tons of responsibly sourced recycled plastic.
✅ Improve the livelihoods of 50,000 informal waste sector workers and waste pickers by 2026.

By working with global and local partners, we are strengthening plastic recycling supply chains to be fair, just, and inclusive—helping people and protecting the planet.

Head to our link in bio to read more.

#IKEAFoundation #TheCirculateInitiative
  • We’re pleased to share the Climate Governance Initiative 2024 Annual Report. 🌍 🙌

The IKEA Foundation proudly supports Climate Governance Initiative because we believe effective climate leadership within business is vital to transition towards a sustainable and inclusive future.
 
Over the past five years, Climate Governance Initiative has grown into a powerful global movement, empowering over 100,000 board directors across 33 Chapters worldwide to drive bold climate action. 
 
"Climate Governance Initiative has built the foundation of a truly global and influential movement, and this Annual Report portrays a vigorous movement, ever-growing in strength and purpose." - Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Governing Board, Climate Governance Initiative
 
🔗 Head to our link in bio to read the report in full. 
 
#IKEAFoundation #ClimateGovernanceInitiative
The IKEA Foundation supports @goglassociation to strengthen and develop the global industry around Productive Use of Renewable Energy (#PURE). Their #PuttingSolar2Work series highlights the benefits that renewable energy can bring to people like Doreen Njoroge. 

Doreen is a mother of three from rural Kenya. In 2022, she adopted an Agsol solar-powered micro-mill, which has not only reduced costs and saved time but also provided her community with cleaner flour. Her story illustrates the potential of #OffGridSolar technology to foster opportunities and resilience. 🌽 🌍

By #PuttingSolar2Work, smallholder farmers aren't just enhancing their businesses but also becoming agents of climate action and economic growth.

🔗 Visit our link in bio to learn more. 

*Image credit to Agsol/GOGLA.

#IKEAFoundation #GOGLA #RenewableEnergy
The IKEA Foundation supports @goglassociation to strengthen and develop the global industry around Productive Use of Renewable Energy (#PURE). Their #PuttingSolar2Work series highlights the benefits that renewable energy can bring to people like Doreen Njoroge. Doreen is a mother of three from rural Kenya. In 2022, she adopted an Agsol solar-powered micro-mill, which has not only reduced costs and saved time but also provided her community with cleaner flour. Her story illustrates the potential of #OffGridSolar technology to foster opportunities and resilience. 🌽 🌍 By #PuttingSolar2Work, smallholder farmers aren't just enhancing their businesses but also becoming agents of climate action and economic growth. 🔗 Visit our link in bio to learn more. *Image credit to Agsol/GOGLA. #IKEAFoundation #GOGLA #RenewableEnergy
1 month ago
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We’re partnering with @thecirculateinitiative to support the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in Kenya and India. This collaboration will help improve the livelihoods of waste workers and increase the responsible sourcing of recycled plastics.

Through training and skills development, the initiative aims to:

✅ Support 500+ waste enterprises.
✅ Generate 100,000 tons of responsibly sourced recycled plastic.
✅ Improve the livelihoods of 50,000 informal waste sector workers and waste pickers by 2026.

By working with global and local partners, we are strengthening plastic recycling supply chains to be fair, just, and inclusive—helping people and protecting the planet.

Head to our link in bio to read more.

#IKEAFoundation #TheCirculateInitiative
We’re partnering with @thecirculateinitiative to support the Responsible Sourcing Initiative in Kenya and India. This collaboration will help improve the livelihoods of waste workers and increase the responsible sourcing of recycled plastics. Through training and skills development, the initiative aims to: ✅ Support 500+ waste enterprises. ✅ Generate 100,000 tons of responsibly sourced recycled plastic. ✅ Improve the livelihoods of 50,000 informal waste sector workers and waste pickers by 2026. By working with global and local partners, we are strengthening plastic recycling supply chains to be fair, just, and inclusive—helping people and protecting the planet. Head to our link in bio to read more. #IKEAFoundation #TheCirculateInitiative
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We’re pleased to share the Climate Governance Initiative 2024 Annual Report. 🌍 🙌

The IKEA Foundation proudly supports Climate Governance Initiative because we believe effective climate leadership within business is vital to transition towards a sustainable and inclusive future.
 
Over the past five years, Climate Governance Initiative has grown into a powerful global movement, empowering over 100,000 board directors across 33 Chapters worldwide to drive bold climate action. 
 
"Climate Governance Initiative has built the foundation of a truly global and influential movement, and this Annual Report portrays a vigorous movement, ever-growing in strength and purpose." - Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Governing Board, Climate Governance Initiative
 
🔗 Head to our link in bio to read the report in full. 
 
#IKEAFoundation #ClimateGovernanceInitiative
We’re pleased to share the Climate Governance Initiative 2024 Annual Report. 🌍 🙌

The IKEA Foundation proudly supports Climate Governance Initiative because we believe effective climate leadership within business is vital to transition towards a sustainable and inclusive future.
 
Over the past five years, Climate Governance Initiative has grown into a powerful global movement, empowering over 100,000 board directors across 33 Chapters worldwide to drive bold climate action. 
 
"Climate Governance Initiative has built the foundation of a truly global and influential movement, and this Annual Report portrays a vigorous movement, ever-growing in strength and purpose." - Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Governing Board, Climate Governance Initiative
 
🔗 Head to our link in bio to read the report in full. 
 
#IKEAFoundation #ClimateGovernanceInitiative
We’re pleased to share the Climate Governance Initiative 2024 Annual Report. 🌍 🙌

The IKEA Foundation proudly supports Climate Governance Initiative because we believe effective climate leadership within business is vital to transition towards a sustainable and inclusive future.
 
Over the past five years, Climate Governance Initiative has grown into a powerful global movement, empowering over 100,000 board directors across 33 Chapters worldwide to drive bold climate action. 
 
"Climate Governance Initiative has built the foundation of a truly global and influential movement, and this Annual Report portrays a vigorous movement, ever-growing in strength and purpose." - Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Governing Board, Climate Governance Initiative
 
🔗 Head to our link in bio to read the report in full. 
 
#IKEAFoundation #ClimateGovernanceInitiative
We’re pleased to share the Climate Governance Initiative 2024 Annual Report. 🌍 🙌 The IKEA Foundation proudly supports Climate Governance Initiative because we believe effective climate leadership within business is vital to transition towards a sustainable and inclusive future. Over the past five years, Climate Governance Initiative has grown into a powerful global movement, empowering over 100,000 board directors across 33 Chapters worldwide to drive bold climate action. "Climate Governance Initiative has built the foundation of a truly global and influential movement, and this Annual Report portrays a vigorous movement, ever-growing in strength and purpose." - Julie Baddeley, Chair of the Governing Board, Climate Governance Initiative 🔗 Head to our link in bio to read the report in full. #IKEAFoundation #ClimateGovernanceInitiative
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