Guest blog entry: Rich Law’s first light distribution trip

My name is Rich Laws, and I have proudly supported Shine on Rwanda since the organization was founded in 2021. While I had read about the impact that solar lighting can have on families living without electricity and had seen many photos from previous distributions, nothing compared to experiencing it firsthand.

In early June 2026, I traveled to Rwanda to help distribute more than 320 solar lamps to families in need. I met board members John and Leah the evening I arrived, and we shared dinner with our local nonprofit partner, NPO-TER, to review the plans for the following day. Working with nearly a dozen local leaders throughout the Gisagara District in southern Rwanda, NPO-TER had organized a central distribution point where families from surrounding communities could gather.

We left before sunrise for the four-and-a-half-hour drive south, traveling across Rwanda's beautiful rolling hills. During the final hour, the paved roads gave way to narrow dirt roads winding through rural farming communities where most families rely on subsistence agriculture. As we got closer, it became increasingly clear how limited the local infrastructure was.  

After briefly losing our way and receiving directions from a local farmer, we rounded a corner and saw nearly 400 people waiting patiently beneath the shade of several large trees. It is a moment I will never forget. My first thought was, "I hope we have enough lamps." My second was gratitude that so many people had traveled such long distances for something many of us take for granted—the ability to have light after sunset.