Roots was set up in Calais in 2017 following the demolition of the 'Jungle' refugee camp. While the structure of the camp disappeared, the flow of refugees didn't, so we set up an electronics workshop where we create ingenious solutions to the ongoing problem of affordable energy for those on the move. 

 

We repurpose 18650 Lithium-ion batteries that are found in a multitude of rechargeable electronic devices. We build portable personal power banks which are then distributed by our partners, so that refugees can keep their phones charged as well as USB heating pads during the winter to prevent the onset of hypothermia during these bitterly cold winter nights.

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It costs us £2.50 to build a power bank worth £20.

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88 % COST REDUCTION    |    8    PHONE CHARGES    |    4   USB PORTS

 

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We also build charging boxes which replace those noisy, polluting petrol generators.

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Projects like this provide people with essential life saving items on a scale and at a price that would not be sustainable by purchasing these items wholesale.

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A phone is not only where family photos and contacts are kept, it also provides access to vital aid including food, clothes, shelter and medical care when displaced.