ASU SolarSPELL Initiative
SolarSPELL wins an Edison Award
Of 700 applicants, SolarSPELL won silver in Cultural Impact & Education at the 2026 Edison Awards, which honor innovations that are “redefining industries, solving complex challenges and shaping the future.”
What we do
The ASU SolarSPELL Initiative empowers offline communities globally by providing localized libraries and building the 21st century skills people need to make informed decisions, increase their self-reliance, and improve their quality of life.
We work closely with local partners to identify information needs, curate relevant content, and continually improve our collections across three sectors: education, health and agriculture. The SolarSPELL (Solar Powered Educational Learning Library) digital library mimics an online experience by generating its own offline WiFi hotspot to which any WiFi-capable device can connect to freely, and safely, surf the library’s tens of thousands of open access resources.
Localized libraries
Diverse collections feature open source, multimedia content curated to meet local needs.
Solar, offline technology
Rugged, portable and compatible with any Wi-Fi enabled device, our libraries can reach even the most remote.
Train-the-trainer model
Hands-on training gives communities the tools they need to use their library to its fullest potential.
Impact evaluation
Thorough impact evaluation helps us continuously improve our libraries to better meet user needs.
Fall 2026 internships now open
Check out our open roles to see how you can join the SolarSPELL team, enjoy mentorship from our incredible interdisciplinary staff, and have a real-world impact with your work.
90%
Say SolarSPELL meets their information needs
92%
Feel better prepared to do their job
88%
Report improved digital literacy
510,000
Estimated number of learners reached
News & updates
Intern reflections from Rwanda: Shaela
July 22, 2026
“My experience as an intern with SolarSPELL, through all 3 years of getting my degree, has been the perfect representation of what it means to be a Sun Devil…”
SolarSPELL launches coffee agronomy library with Kula
July 20, 2026
“Kula Project is a nonprofit that works alongside coffee-farming communities to improve women coffee farmers’ livelihoods through regenerative agricultural…”
3 ASU juniors awarded Barrett Global Explorers Grant
June 11, 2026 | ASU News
“Shaela Patel … is working with SolarSPELL to develop veterinary medicine and animal husbandry education videos for rural farmers in East Africa who lack access to…”
Contribute to our efforts
Give today and join our community of SolarSPELL library patrons. With your one-time donation or ongoing financial support, your gift empowers learners globally by providing access to localized information paired with the training for long-term success.
Our partnerships
SolarSPELL’s work would not be possible without the non-profits, government ministries, intergovernmental organizations and companies that partner with us. We are grateful for their dedication to empowering communities with access to information and internet-ready skill-building!
