|
Lifeline Energy (formerly Freeplay Foundation) is a non-profit social enterprise that provides technology solutions for off-grid learning. The organization designs, manufactures and distributes solar and wind-up media players and radios for classroom and group listening and was behind the first solar and wind-up radio for humanitarian use which launched in 2003. Since it began operations in 1999 more than 550,000 wind-up and solar powered radios and media players have been distributed, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Millions of listeners have been reached, as classrooms of up to 60 children or listening groups can use each radio or media player. Lifeline Energy is grant seeking and relies on contributions from individuals, family foundations, corporate funding and government-sponsored programmes. It collaborates with governments, international relief organizations and in-country NGO partners to implement education and information projects. In 2009, it established Lifeline Technologies Trading Ltd, a for-profit new product development and trading arm that designs and develops the products that Lifeline Energy uses in its projects. This is a relatively unique hybrid business structure with Lifeline Technology’s profits reverting to the charity to provide a revenue stream. The Lifeplayer MP3 was awarded the top prize in the inaugural SAB Foundation Innovation awards in 2011 and was also chosen as a finalist in the INDEX: Design to Improve life award in the same year.〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Lifeplayer )〕 The Times, a UK newspaper, selected Lifeline Energy (then known as Freeplay Foundation) as a beneficiary for its 2005/2006 Christmas Charity Appeal. The organization was also awarded the first annual Tech Museum of Innovation Award in the education category in 2001〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Freeplay Foundation Wins Technology Benefiting Humanity Award )〕 and won the Energy Project award in the World Bank’s Development Marketplace in 2006. Lifeline Energy’s current on-going projects include a radio distance education programme in Zambia and providing information and education access to Somali women refugees in Kenya’s Dadaab camps. ==History== The Freeplay Foundation was established in 1998 by Rory Stear, the co-founder of Freeplay Energy Group. Freeplay Energy, which by then was a public company, was sold in July 2008 to Delhi-based businessman Devin Narang. Rory Stear – along with all other directors - resigned from Freeplay Energy Group in 2008. Lifeline Energy runs under the direction of Chief Executive Officer, Kristine Pearson. She has held this position since January 1999 when the charity became operational. On 8 April 2010 the Freeplay Foundation changed its name to Lifeline Energy. The name change reflects the organisation’s desire to not only develop and distribute radios and other communication tools, but also a range of other practical, fit-for-purpose products for the poor. Over the years Lifeline Energy has implemented information and education projects using solar and wind-up radios in more than a dozen countries in sub-Saharan Africa. These include Rwanda, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Niger, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Burundi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Sudan and Sudan. Donors have included Anglo American PLC, the Body Shop, Vodafone Group Foundation, Asda, NASDAQ, the Founders and Supporters of (International Tom Hanks Day ) and the World Bank. Gordon Roddick, co-founder and former chairman of The Body Shop International plc said in an interview with The Times, London "Radio is the perfect way of getting quality education to a wide area incredibly cheaply."〔 〕 Lifeline Energy is technology agnostic and focused on finding appropriate ways to improve the lives of those it aims to assist. It seeks technology solutions to meet these challenges – whether high or low tech. As with its Lifeplayer MP3, Lifeline Energy encapsulates known technologies (solar, battery, audio, radio, MP3) in products that are developed to meet the challenges of the environment and social contexts of their use. Products must be robust, intuitive in their function and sustainable, even for the least sophisticated users. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Lifeline Energy」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|