Thomas Ricke

A student of the 80ies, a time where the current concepts of market based approaches to economic development and BOP (Base of the Pyramid) science was not known yet, I studied business administration on top of economic development, in hindsight a great combination. I was fascinated by the possible solutions to overcome poverty. Due to my passion for economic development, at the age of 34, I gladly accepted an offer by my former employer Procter & Gamble for a 3-year assignment in Yemen. This continued with subsequent assignments in Egypt and Nigeria for another 5 years. What I learnt and saw in the developing countries encouraged me to found Villageboom in 2008. Villageboom is a social enterprise to improve the lives in the rural part of developing markets. The Villageboom solar lamps – meanwhile in the 4th generation – are the answer to the question: how can we make them so attractive that there is no reason anymore to stay with a kerosene lamp.

300 million families still use kerosene lamps as their only lighting.

The switch to solar light does not only increase the brightness of the light by 500%, but it also saves money.