In the slums of Bangalore, children cannot do their homework after the sun sets. Families use polluting kerosene lamps, and the fuel eats up a significant percentage of their humble incomes. Pollinate Energy trains members of the local community to distribute and install solar lighting systems as micro-entrepreneurs. They're armed with the best solar systems on the market and sell them to families within their communities.

This activity has two key benefits: it gives communities access to cheaper, renewable energy, providing alternatives to the expensive and toxic kerosene lamps that many of them use; and it enables community members to earn extra income.

So far, over 26,000 urban poor living in Bangalore’s slum communities have been helped by solar systems. Transitioning from kerosene to solar has saved more than 225,000 litres of kerosene and 540,000 kilograms of carbon emissions to date.

We talk to Monique Alfris and Ben Merven, co-founders at Pollinate Energy, about their initiative.

Listen to the interview below, and subscribe to the Momentum for Change podcast. To stay connected with Momentum for Change, subscribe to our monthly email newsletter.