In partnership with the Uganda-based Rape Hurts Foundation (RHF), SELF implemented—and is expanding—a solar solution to reduce sexual violence against women and girls.
About the Rape Hurts Foundation
The Rape Hurts Foundation (RHF) is a Ugandan NGO dedicated to fighting sexual- and gender-based violence. RHF established a center in Bukyerimba village that provides refuge to survivors of sexual assault and conducts programs within the community to support women and girls. RHF’s founder, Hellen Lunkuse Tanyinga, empowers women and survivors to pursue brighter futures through compassion, education, and skills development. She also provides a safe haven for the area’s homeless children—many of them conceived through rape. An ongoing impediment for the program has been the historical lack of electricity in the region.
Powering Bukyerimba
Because there is no electricity in Bukyerimba to power water infrastructure, it’s common for local women and girls to venture outside of town—often at night—to collect water for themselves and their families. This trek, tragically, witnesses many assaults.
To eliminate the need for these treks, SELF installed a solar-powered water system that delivers fresh, clean drinking water right to the heart of the village. SELF also established solar streetlights around the community to improve safety after dark, allowing women, girls, and vulnerable community members to travel without fear.
The results
Through this project, 2,000 people have gained access to clean water. Women and girls no longer bear the burden of walking long distances, allowing them to focus their time on school, work, and other priorities. Furthermore, initial data confirms that sexual assaults in the area are down by 30%. As this work continues, it is SELF’s hope that these efforts can be replicated throughout unelectrified regions to support survivors of sexual violence, advance gender equity, and improve access to clean water.
SELF works with RHF on a number of other initiatives, including on a solar cooking program that provides entrepreneurship opportunities for local women. SELF has also funded three solar-powered refrigerators, which help with the storage of cold food and drinks.
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