Youth
Israeli businesswoman brings power to Africa
Sivan Ya’ari is the epitome of a woman who has exceeded all expectations and a perfect example on National Women’s Day of what can be achieved. She was the King David Schools’ Foundation (KDSF) guest speaker at their Power Breakfast at Villa Arcadia on Hollard Campus in Parktown on August 9.
OWN CORRESPONDENT
Sivan told over 150 women how she came to bring electricity and water to over one million people in rural Africa, using Israeli innovations and technology. She spoke about the ground-breaking work she and her company, Innovation: Africa are doing in Africa.
When in her 20s and working for a denim manufacturer, Sivan was sent to Africa. Distressed by the poverty, suffering, hunger and a lack of simple resources such as electricity and clean water, Sivan was motivated to take action.
She returned to America where she studied international energy management and policy at Columbia University, and developed the groundwork for what would become Innovation: Africa, a non-profit organisation that brings Israeli solar, water and agricultural innovations to rural African villages.
To date her company has completed over 140 projects, which provide solar power to generate electricity for schools and health clinics and pumps to produce clean water, all enabling improved education, medical care and agriculture to over one million people in communities throughout Africa.
Innovation: Africa has won numerous awards, including the Innovation Award from the United Nations. Sivan has been recognised as one of the “40 Under-40 Most Promising Israelis” by Globe magazine and one of the “50 Most Influential Women in Israel”, by Forbes Israel.
Sivan had a message about the importance of education and how none of her achievements would have been possible without the education she received, and without the technology engineered in Israel. This message left the audience inspired and motivated to make a change in their own lives, and in the lives of others.
.