Sales agents being trained to sell new VELUX solar lamps in three African nations

A solar lamp that won the VELUX Natural Light International Design Competition last year is being  manufactured, and 14,500 of them will be available for sale to residents of Senegal, Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The lamp, designed by Mariana Arando and Luca Fondello of the University of Buenos Aires in Argentina, can be connected to other lamps to provide lighting for events. The lamps will be competitively priced to remain affordable.

The Alight Zimbabwe Trust is overseeing training, including workshops, practical simulations, demonstrations and class work, for 150 locals who will act as VELUX sales agent.

"The first business training was very successful," Edius N. Makono, of the Alight Zimbabwe Trust, said. "It was well-attended and the future sales agents had a high interest in the product, convinced that the lamps would sell well. The agents were able to see that the natural light lamp can save their customers money. After two months of use, customers already save money compared to what they would spend on kerosene lamps. Having solar lamps means being independent from the electrical grid."

The VELUX Group has partnered with Little Sun and Plan International on programs aimed at bringing solar light to Africa.

“It’s been very rewarding working with partners like VELUX and Plan who share our common goal of bringing clean, renewable light to people across Africa,” Mason Huffine, sales manager for Little Sun in Africa, said.