Solar Chargers for Humanity

Welcome to Solar Chargers for Humanity!

This is a project initiated and sponsored by the Rotary Club of Highlands Ranch (Colorado, USA).

Our vision is to become the ‘go to’ ambassador for clubs to initiate their own service projects focused on providing the ability to charge phones, tablets, and other devices in their local areas due to compromised or inadequate power grids. Such a situation may be the result of natural disasters, war, or dislocation (refugee camps).

Note: SolarChargersForHumanity.org redirects to this website.

Our Mission

Bring low cost, portable solar charger product providers together with Rotary clubs worldwide so the devices can be provided to people in need.

Conduct inter-generational solar charger preparation events that include shipment to needy countries (such as Ukraine). 

Act as ambassador to other Rotary clubs, showing them how to replicate our Service Project with a focus on Rotarian participation.

Our History

In the fall of 2024, fellow Rotarian Andy Lenec approached our club about supporting his Solar Charger Project for Sunflower Seeds Ukraine.  We were excited by the opportunity and hosted our first charger-building event in January 2025, working alongside 70 middle and high school Interactors.  We created 20 USB-chargers powered by 18”x24” solar panels and immediately shipped them to Ukraine to be distributed among schools, hospitals, and people who lacked an electric grid in which they could recharge their life-critical devices (phones, tablets, etc).  We were hooked and now seek to replicate such events, both within our District, our country, and with other clubs around the world.
 

Recognizing that portable (battery-powered) electronic devices, especially mobile phones, have become critical to the lives of everyone on this planet and that disasters of many types leave people without access to functioning electrical grids, our vision is to ensure that people living without electricity have the ability to keep their critical portable electronic devices charged and, therefore, functioning.

The Need

  • During three years of war, intermittent power in eastern Ukraine means schools and first responders do not receive the electricity needed to charge their phones and tablets.
  • Shelterbox estimates  there are 500 refugee camps worldwide containing 6.6 million people and that most of these camps have no power infrastructure.
  • Six months after the hurricane Helene devastated North and South Carolina, almost 1 million people remained without power.
  • Nearly 2 million residents of Gaza do not have a regular power supply, generally only available a few hours a day.

The Approach

We take small solar panels (2' x 2') in the USA, add an adapter that converts them into USB chargers to power mobile devices, and then ship to countries in need for distribution.

  • Purchase the panels
  • Obtain USB conversion adapter
  • Connect adapters to panels
  • Decorate the backside of panels with paintings, drawings, and messages of support and encouragement
  • Distribute to schools, kids' camps, medical facilities, refugee camps, churches, and other locations where groups can connect to the chargers to charge their portable/mobile devices.
 

In the event that you have a need for a more personal situation (for individuals or families), we have identified a solar powered charger the size of a smart phone (2"x5") that unfolds to a 6"x5" solar panel with two USB ports and one USB Type-C port. The approach for these snaller chargers would be your purchasing a case, affix a Rotary sticker, and distribute them individually to persons or families in need.

We address this need by holding regular events to create such chargers and ship them to communities where those chargers will make a meaningful difference.

 
Moreover, we partner with local groups during these events to serve our own community and strengthen ties within that community.

To expand on these efforts, we’ve signed an MOU with Unite to Light in Santa Barbara (California, USA) to purchase their Chandler Chargers at a discount and use them as the basis of our chargers going forward.

We invite Rotary clubs around the world to join us in this effort, either by replicating our efforts (we’ll be more than happy to train you!) or by receiving and distributing such chargers in their local communities.
 
If interested, please contact us via the form below!

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    Connecting with Ukraine

    Interact Club students from Mountain Vista High School and Mountain Ridge Middle School work with the HIghlands Ranch Rotary Club to assemble solar panels with USB chargers that will be shipped to Ukraine. Credit: Haley Lena

    Connecting with Ukraine: Highlands Ranch students assemble solar panels for schools and hospitals in Ukraine

    CLICK HERE for the full article as written by Haley Lena in the Highlands Ranch Herald