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קהילת סיד-ישראל מורכבת מארגונים ומאנשי ונשות מקצוע במגוון תחומים הקשורים לפיתוח בינ"ל וסיוע הומניטרי. בואו נכיר את חברי הקהילה ונלמד מהעשייה שלהם ברחבי העולם.
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Since its inception in 2008, Innovation: Africa has been a trailblazer in transforming remote African villages by providing essential resources: solar energy and clean water. Founded by Sivan Yaari, this organization has significantly enhanced the quality of life for numerous communities by addressing the critical challenges of water and electricity access.
Sivan Yaari, the founder and driving force behind Innovation: Africa, has a rich background in energy and sustainability. Her journey began in her twenties while she traveled extensively across Africa. The dire need for basic resources deeply moved her, inspiring her to pursue a Master’s degree in energy at Columbia University. Armed with knowledge and passion, Sivan set out to create meaningful change.
During her time around the contenent, Sivan observed a profound energy crisis in many African communities. She saw mothers and children spending hours fetching contaminated water and schools and medical centers struggling without electricity. Realizing the potential of solar energy, she began installing solar panels in a small medical center in Tanzania during her studies. The immediate and transformative impact of these installations inspired her to establish Innovation: Africa.
So, from humble beginnings with just a few solar panels, Innovation: Africa has grown into a remarkable charity. The organization has brought water and electricity to over 1100 villages across ten African countries. Sivan proudly notes that the organization now employs around 150 people, primarily local team members, who are instrumental in its success. Solar energy is not only a reliable solution but also the most cost-effective means to provide these essential resources.
The journey has not been without its challenges. Sivan recounted a particularly poignant story from Karamoja, northern Uganda, one of the poorest regions she has encountered. In 2017, despite their best efforts, they arrived too late to save a young mother and her baby. Such experiences highlight the urgency and importance of their work. The baby didn’t survived due to starvation. The drought made it such that even the mother couldn’t breast feed the baby. They were both malnourished and she didn’t have enough milk to give him.
A key factor in Innovation: Africa's success is its strong collaboration with local partners. With offices and teams in multiple countries, the organization relies on local expertise to identify villages in need and implement sustainable solutions. Israeli technology, such as remote monitoring systems, ensures transparency and effectiveness by providing live tracking of water pumping activities.
Lastly, sustainability is at the core of the organizations projects. Beyond simply drilling for water, the organization ensures long-term functionality through continuous monitoring and maintenance. Sivan emphasized the importance of using local partners to achieve project sustainability, training locals to use and maintain the water pumps and fostering self-reliance among residents to manage their resources effectively.
In every village even before the drilling innovation africa hires and train 10 people from the village to work with the contractor to learn for 4 months all they need to know to operate, fix and maintain the solar water pumping system.
Innovation: Africa's work is a testament to the power of technology and local collaboration in addressing critical challenges, and Sivan Yaari's dedication and vision continue to inspire and transform lives across the continent.