In a small village in Ethiopia, where the sun sets early and the night is long, lived a young boy named Sami. His home, like all others, flickered only with a candlelight after dark.

Did you know: Ethiopia has the third largest energy access deficit in Sub-Saharan Africa with about 70% of the population live without electricity.

One Night, as Sami and his friends tired their eyes studying by a small candlelight. Sami thinks out loud, "Why must we have these candles?"

"I know its hard to see, son, but there is no other option. We have no electricity!", his father responds sadly. 

As Sami approaches his father, in the kitchen, the smoke from the fire start to make Sami’s friends cough. 

Sami knew the air wasn’t good for them, but he didn't know what to do about it. 

DID YOU KNOW: In Ethiopia, smoke from cooking with firewood leads to the deaths of 50K children under five, making up 5% of the country's health issues. Nearly 1 in 4 children suffer from severe lung infections every two weeks. Unfortunately, only 30% of health clinics are function to help in rural areas.

The next morning, like every other, Sami’s mother and sister's, Liya and Elsa, journeyed far to fetch water. Taking about 2 hours of their morning and time, they knew this was the only way the family would have clean water for cooking, hygiene, and or basic needs. 

"Why do we have to walk so far for water, Mama? My teacher says I can't keep being late!" Liya asks!

Well it's the only way, Liya" her mother replies. "We have no other choice."

DID YOU KNOW: In Ethiopia, only 45% of children attend primary school, with girls particularly affected as they often need to help their families and collect water instead of going to school. Almost walking 4-9 miles everyday for clean water.

At school, while the girls fetched water, Sami learned about different ways people live around the world. "Some places don’t have to worry about clean water or light," his teacher said in their classroom.

"What does that mean?" he asks his teacher. "It means that being poor is not only about the amount of money," she explains.

"It is instead about not having enough of the things we need to live a good life. Such as water, food, and energy!"

DID YOU KNOW: In Ethiopia, 70% of people face poor health and limited access to education and basic services, with an additional 18.4% at risk of falling into this category. Compounding these, 90% of Ethiopians live on less than $5.50 a day.

"Could we change that?" Sami asked as he left. His teacher yelled, "With ideas, effort, and support, you could do about anything."

Inspired to find a solution to this, after Sami's long walk home, he tells his neighbors "We need electricity!"

"You're sooo right, Sami", they say and nod in agreement as he thinks of answers with them.