Siva Yaari of Innovation Africa. Photo courtesy of iA
The 48
Innovating in Africa: Sivan Yaari
Sivan Yaari founded Innovation: Africa (iA), a nonprofit organization donating Israeli solar, water and agricultural technologies to schools and medical centers, to supply safe and clean water and solar energy to more than 4.2 million people in rural communities across 10 African countries.
Since its establishment in 2008, Innovation: Africa has completed over 900 installations, offering a unique solution with cost-effective, sustainable systems that transform the lives of millions of people — all with Israeli technology.
I’m motivated most by the smiles on the faces of mothers as they open the taps of clean water, and the faces of the children as they switch on a light for the first time. We recognize that access to clean water is a basic human right and that renewable energy is the key to breaking cycles of poverty.
The impact of clean water is immediately felt by all community members as their health and wellbeing dramatically improve. It is, however, most poignantly experienced by the women and young girls, who are predominantly responsible for walking kilometers every day in search of water from open and contaminated sources. Thanks to iA’s water projects, the women are relieved of this burden and their children can now attend school.
“I’m motivated most by the smiles on the faces of mothers as they open the taps of clean water, and the faces of the children as they switch on a light for the first time.”
Moreover, access to water spurs economic stability as businesses are established, including brick-making and agriculture that allows community members to grow vegetables to feed themselves and sell the surplus in local markets.
Providing solar energy to a school or medical center, and to the homes of teachers and nurses, enhances the wellbeing of students and patients. Electricity enables these facilities to utilize laptops, essential medical equipment and a vaccine refrigerator, which has become more critical than ever.
Sivan Yaari in Tanzania, opening taps of clean water for the first time. Photo courtesy of iA
I faced many challenges and failed many times. But each time I learned from my mistakes and understood how best to proceed. I grew up as what I considered to be poor, but it was my first experience in Africa where I truly understood what poverty meant.
I am proud to share that Innovation: Africa is undertaking an extensive expansion plan. Over the next four years, we aim to complete an additional 1,200 solar and water projects to impact a total of 10 million people across Africa.
