Meet Sarah Baird from Let There Be Light — who inspires to get involved in the SDGs no matter your age, training, or demographic
Just yesterday, during our Global Impact Network Ambassador Meeting Call, was I speaking to Sarah who diligently was calling us from the car as she was offloading more than 100 bicycles for migrants in the US. She is one of those rare breeds of people who do good and try to do good things any time of her day — because she simply embodies the Light — that same Light that inspired “Let There Be Light”
We take light for granted, not realizing how many people in the world lack basic access to energy. As data from UN Stats suggests:
The proportion of the global population with access to electricity increased steadily, from 79 percent in 2000 to 85 percent in 2012. Recent progress was driven largely by advancements in Southern Asia, South-Eastern Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. Despite these improvements, 1.1 billion people are still without this essential service. In particular, over 65 percent of the population in sub-Saharan Africa are living without electricity.
The alarming statistics did not stop Sarah Baird but motivated her instead — to bring change and to provide alternative energy to the communities that needed it the most — for a brighter and bigger future. One where light is not an issue.
We asked Sarah why she cared about the SDG’s, to which she answered:
The SDGS are the key to efficient, effective action. They are all interlinked and must be addressed through holistic and context specific action. I work on sdg7 and its Interlinkages with all 17 goals.
I started an all volunteer organization called Let There Be Light International that solar electrifies health clinics in offgrid Africa and gets safe solar lights to new moms, kids and people living with disabilities in offgrid Africa. We’ve impacted more than 600,000 people in six years and have primarily impacted SDGs 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 13.
Sarah has created an impact by solar-electrifying 42 rural health clinics in Uganda and donating 16,000 solar lights to homes in Kenya, Malawi, and Uganda as well as raising awareness in her home community and around the world about how solar lights can change lives especially in low-resource communities.
She also founded an SDG-focused organization in Uganda called Solar Health Uganda, and she has been a full-time volunteer for 6 years focusing on the SDGs and working with the UN NGO and Women’s Major Groups, having spoken about SDG Interlinkages at the past 3 United Nations HLPFs.
Sarah talks emotionally and with pride about the most memorable moment she has had, which occurred when a new mom in rural Uganda proudly showed her her new baby girl and new solar light and said
“Now our home, health, safety, and someday my daughter’s education will all be brighter. Thank you for bringing us hope and light.”
In her daily life, she is developing and monitoring a signature new program for maternal and infant health, Safe Births + Healthy Homes, that impacts five SDGs and has improved the lives and outcomes of new moms and babies in Africa.
Sarah proudly wears her SDG pins everywhere and gives talks to student groups and rotary clubs and retirement communities about the SDGs and how we can all take meaningful action every day. She also posts 2+ times a week about the SDGs and invites students to engage with our programming to develop fluency around the goals and how to communicate them to their communities.
We asked Sarah:
Why are you well suited to become one of 100 of the world’s first Global Impact Citizens?
I’m an example of how everyone has the opportunity (and responsibility) to take action on the SDGs no matter your age, training or demographic. Until I started working on the SDGs in 2015, I was a middle-aged suburban housewife with no special talents, work experience or knowledge about the goals. I wanted to be the change I wished to see in the world, so I stood up and took action. I am so proud to stand with the youth and all the experts together as an example of how you, me, everyone can and must stand up for the Global Goals and Agenda 2030!
We would not classify Sarah as a middle-aged suburban housewife, we would rather call her a “hero”. A modern-day woman who perseveres through life’s challenges and brings light into people’s lives figuratively and literally.
We are proud to announce Sarah as one of our First 100 Global Impact Ambassadors.
You can find more about Sarah and Let There Be Light on Instagram, just click here.
You can also find Global Impact Network on Instagram and join the movement with our fellow change-makers.
Join her and me by creating a positive impact, globally.
For more information contact info@globalimpact.world
