Phnom Penh (December 04, 2013) – Panasonic Corporation, one of the largest Japanese electronics producers, donated today 222 sets of solar lantern worth about US$10,000 to Cambodian rural poor community who have no access to electricity. The donation was channeled through LIFE WITH DIGNITY (LWD) under the coordination of Japan Evangelical Lutheran Association (JELA).
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Ms. Michiko Ogawa, General Manager for CSR & Citizenship Group, Panasonic Corporation, said that the donation was part of the 100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project of Panasonic to help resolve various challenges in the areas without access to electricity, especially to support the education and health sectors.
She said Panasonic launched “A 100,000 Solar Lantern Project” two years ago aiming to improve the quality of life of local community. “This is the first time that Panasonic makes cooperation with LWD. We hope to continue this collaboration in the future,” she said.
Speaking at the handover ceremony, LWD Executive Director Dr. Sam Inn, on behalf of the community, expressed his sincere thanks to Panasonic Corporation for its kind support to the rural community who live in remote areas in Kampong Chhnang and Kampong Speu provinces.
“These lanterns will help reduce difficulties of the rural poor living in the areas where electricity is not accessible, especially rural students who need light to study at night time,” he said, adding that the lanterns would also be very useful for the Village Health Support Groups to perform their tasks at night time.
“This is a very good project. It has demonstrated a social corporate responsibility to help the society, particularly the most vulnerable people in rural areas. I hope that community will benefit from this project,” he said.
All the lanterns would be distributed to the community the following weeks and LWD would be responsible and accountable for the distribution and would monitor how they were used, he said.
Target groups who will receive the lanterns included those working and living in the off-grid areas under LWD target areas. They are (i) Village Health Support Groups, (ii) Female Headed Households that have more than four children living on the social land concession remote areas, and (iii) Community Learning Centers.
For more information, please, contact Leak Ratna (Mr.), LWD Communication Coordinator | E-mail:ratna@lwd.org.kh | Phone: 012 819 121