I try not to ask too much of my readers, but this post and the next are about a couple of worthwhile causes I’ve come across of late.

The first project is the BBC World Challenge competition, supporting “social entrepreneurs”, grassroots projects making an impact in the developing world. One of the twelve finalists, e.quinox, is an initiative founded by students from Imperial College. Along with students at the Kigali Institute of Technology, the team is developing solar-powered devices for rural electrification, “Electric Kiosks”, three of which have already been deployed in Rwanda.

Please vote for the team — the only one led by students — and support this fantastic project.