Christmas 2026 - Give Light Give Life

“And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” Genesis 1:3

Let there be light in the Solomon Islands

Christian World Service is supporting UnitingWorld in Australia to provide over 8,600 people in remote Solomon Island locations with reliable renewable energy that strengthens essential services, supports climate-resilient livelihoods and improves safety during disasters.

Reliable electricity will allow medical clinics to store medicines safely and provide continuous care (of particular importance for the elderly), while schools will be able to enhance learning environments and outcomes by operating lighting, fans and digital learning tools.

Solar-powered cold storage and ice production will enable fisherfolk to preserve catch, reduce losses and access higher-value markets, while electricity can also support small enterprises such as sewing and tool use.

The project leverages longstanding partnerships to pair renewable energy infrastructure with improved livelihood activities, inclusive water supply and sanitation, community governance, disaster preparedness, gender equality and gender-based violence prevention. Together, these efforts will reduce reliance on expensive fossil fuels and increase the wellbeing and resilience of remote Solomon Islands communities, particularly for the elderly, women, youth and people with disabilities.

Across the Pacific Islands, unreliable and inadequate electricity is limiting essential services, livelihoods, and community safety.

In places like the Solomon Islands, where only 15% of people are connected to the national grid, medical clinics cannot refrigerate vaccines, schools struggle to provide lighting or digital learning, and evacuation centres remain dark and unpowered during cyclones.

Families face high fuel costs, frequent outages, and long periods without power after storms, while fisherfolk lose income when they cannot freeze or store their catch. Women and girls are disproportionately affected, navigating unlit pathways and carrying heavier household burdens.

We have particular concerns for the elderly. Reliable, clean energy is a lifeline for health, safety, resilience, and long‑term wellbeing.

The United Nations Affordable and Clean Energy Goal No. 7 is also our goal

In conjunction with all of our partners, Christian World Service joins with the United Nations, the ACT Alliance and UnitingWorld Australia to provide affordable and clean energy to many of the world’s most vulnerable currently living on energy poverty.

As part of steering a global mission of Sustainable Development, United Nations Goal 7 seeks to ensure affordable, reliable, and clean energy for all, a foundation for human dignity and opportunity.

For people trapped in poverty and injustice, access to solar energy is particularly transformative it powers medical clinics and schools, enables safe cooking, reduces household costs, and opens pathways to improved and more reliable livelihoods Goal 7 helps create fairer societies where people can participate fully in economic life and build a future not defined by deprivation.

It’s the launchpad for progressing support of impoverished communities onwards to achieving the next sustainable goals

This Christmas we return to God’s first blessing to the world: light

“And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” Genesis 1:3.

This Christmas, we address energy poverty by expanding access to God’s constant light through solar power for those otherwise caught in poverty and injustice.

For such impoverished people, solar energy improves medical care, schooling, clean water and sanitation, livelihoods, and the personal security of women and girls. Of special importance is that it brings significant life improvement for the elderly.

Its power to help lift communities from poverty is why “Affordable and Clean Energy” is United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7, as shown in the illustration in this brochure. We share that goal as we work with our global partners to bring more of the power of God’s light and love to people facing energy poverty, to help enrich their lives. On behalf of those who will use your gift to help lift people from extreme poverty, thankyou.

I hope you can join us today with a gift of light to give life this Christm

The CWS Christmas Appeal has been a tradition in New Zealand churches since 1945 when the first Christmas Bowl appeal was launched to raise funds for post-war reconstruction in Greece.  Together we have supported millions of people through conflict and disaster.  We have helped them improve their lives and livelihoods.  Your donations have funded our local partners to strengthen communities in their efforts to end violence and promote human rights and peace.  Thank you.