You know how some names can twist your tongue a little? Glow & Grow is one of them, especially if you mix up your Ls and Rs. But behind that little tongue twister is a story close to my heart.
Growing up in Kenya, I loved our family trips to “shags”, our countryside home. It meant time with cousins, grandma, and endless laughter. But when night came, the fun faded. Without electricity, our only light came from small kerosene lamps. Their weak glow barely lit the room, and the smoke made our eyes sting. The soot painted the ceiling black, and if you weren’t careful, one small bump could start a fire. Back then, I didn’t think much of it, but now I know how unsafe and harmful those lamps are. Sadly, over a billion people around the world still rely on them for light.
From Gloom to Glow
Years later, at university, I discovered social entrepreneurship and thought, What if we could change this? That’s how Glow & Grow was born. The idea was simple: when communities glow with clean light, they can grow in safety, health, and opportunity.
We started by distributing solar lanterns in rural areas with no electricity, replacing smoky kerosene lamps with clean, reliable light. But it’s more than just giving out lamps; it’s about learning together. We sit down with communities, talk about their experiences, and co-create solutions. Once people understand how solar lighting makes life easier and safer, the idea really catches on.
Each solar lamp also means cleaner air and fewer emissions because every lamp that replaces kerosene keeps harmful smoke out of homes and out of the planet’s air. So in every solar lamp brought into a household, there’s a small win for the environment too.
A New Way to Give Back
As the world becomes more eco-aware, more people are choosing to live sustainably. In fact, about 89% of global consumers say they’ve changed their habits to be more eco-friendly. That’s where Glow & Grow’s subscription-to-impact model comes in.
Here’s how it works: every day, our normal activities, things like driving, flying, or even powering our homes, add to our carbon footprint. That’s our plus one. But with Glow & Grow, you can balance it out, your minus one, by funding a solar lamp for a family that currently relies on kerosene. When that lamp replaces a smoky kerosene one, it prevents carbon from being released into the atmosphere. So your daily emissions are offset by helping someone else light their home safely and sustainably.
It’s simple, meaningful, and personal: you reduce your carbon impact while improving another family’s quality of life.
Travel with Purpose
Through our partnership with Mission Tours & Travel, supporters can even visit Kenya and take part in our distribution drives. Imagine handing over a lantern to a family, then watching their home light up for the first time; that’s a moment you never forget. It’s not just travel; it’s connection, culture, and purpose rolled into one.
Become a Rafiki
We call our supporters Rafikis, Swahili for “friends.” Every Rafiki helps us light another home, and every light brings hope. Join us, be part of the story, and together let’s make the world glow a little brighter.
-Article by Isabel Khira, Founder of Glow & Grow
