This holiday season, SELF is raising awareness for the important role of light in our lives. This article explores why lighting public spaces is important for safe communities.  

For Nadiope Loy, life changed when the sun went down. In her rural village in central Uganda, the lack of electric power meant that she had only moonlight to guide her as she moved about her village during the dark nights. 

For Nadiope, and many women, nighttime can feel unsafe. In Uganda 22% of women aged 15-49 report having experienced sexual violence. Oftentimes, this takes place outdoors under the cover of darkness. Those who haven’t experienced it often still live with the fear.  

But for Nadiope, and her neighbors, all this changed when solar power arrived.