Elpis means hope. Our mission is to provide refugees with free solar-power to charge their mobile devices on Greek islands and mainland. 

Greece is struggling with an influx of over 850,000 refugees, with more than 155,000 arriving this year. Imagine leaving behind all you have ever known, and being left with only one way to contact your family, transfer money and access key information. Suddenly what just seemed like a phone has become a lifeline. 

 Nowadays almost everyone owns a smartphone, but for refugees access to electricity can be limited, especially on arrival. 

Access to electricity is very limited in camps and while travelling. Refugees are faced with little choice but to continue to look for alternatives, not hesitating to take dangerous risks in order to do so.

              This is how refugees need to charge their devices right now:                                           

A dangerous example of refugees hacking into a light-pole and exposing themselves to high current electricity in order to charge their mobile devices in the Kara Tepe camp, Lesvos, Greece (Credit: Georgios Makkas)

Together we can change this! 

We have designed a solar-charging station that will provide refugees with a sustainable source of electricity.

The Solar-Charger will be built in collaboration with Entec, a Greek solar technology company and its partners; Solar World, Steca Elektronik and Viosy S.A. This unit is configured to generate electricity for 12 plugs per hour using only the sun. We are aiming to run the Solar-Charger for 10 hours a day, delivering electricity to 3600 refugees in just 1 month. Due to its scalability, Project Elpis has the potential to expand to different locations in Greece, Europe and the Middle East.       

We showcase a fully sustainable model by addressing social, economic and environmental issues as we bring green electricity to refugees in Greece. 

Society: Refugees can live more independently from community resources, improving coexistence with locals and reducing tensions between the two. 

Economy: The solar-unit does not connect to the electricity grid, reducing energy expenditures while providing free and accessible energy to all who need it.

Environment: People need to communicate with family and access information. Our design offers a renewable and environmentally viable way of doing so.

With your help we can make this happen!

Your contribution will allow migrants to access a much-needed opportunity to seek out travel advice whilst also enabling communication with family and friends back home.

Dependable information empowers people in crises and aids in clarifying rumors, reducing confusion, stress and susceptibility to fraud.  

Therefore refugees will be able to make better-informed decisions for themselves and their families for a better chance of resettlement.   

You will also help refugees in safeguarding their most cherished memories that are often documented on their mobile phones; offering them hope in the darkest moments.      
                                       

                              Alexandros Angelopoulos & Samuel Kellerhals
                                             Students & Founders of Project Elpis              

                               Part of the Team!

                                 Good Samaritan

                                Corporate Sponsor

Help us by making a donation or by sharing with your friends and family!

If you cannot donate, there are still ways in which you can help us reach people and let them know about Project Elpis. Make a non-financial contribution by following the steps outlined below.