Internet from the Sun

Here’s a good news story for the day. While we might currently be cursing the sun for its punishing summer heat, our global neighbours in Africa are instead singing its praises as more and more communities experience the benefits of solar-powered internet hubs known as ZubaBoxes. Literally translating to ‘sun’ in one of Zimbabwe’s native languages, Zubas – simple shipping containers housing solar-powered and internet-ready computers – are already displaying their poverty-fighting benefits. For example, as simple a task as checking the weather forecast can help local farmers adjust their planting and harvesting times to avoid losing crops, while newfound IT-literacy gives children much better future educational and employment prospects. Still, many more Zubas are needed, so if you or your company want to sponsor a ZubaBox, you can do so here.