In Kibera — often referred to as the largest slum in Africa — you can find some one million Kenyans living without electricity. In an effort to address this shortage of power, two groups with a single bright idea are working to bring the benefits of solar energy — and the spirit of the World Cup — to Kibera’s residents.

Solafrica.ch, a Switzerland-based non-profit organization that promotes the use of solar power, has partnered with the Kibera Community Young Program (KCYP), a local youth organization, to install a big-screen, solar-powered TV inside of a community hall where up to 1,000 people can gather at a time to watch the world’s game for free. So far, the community center has had as many as 500 people attend for a single match. Solafrica has dubbed this soccer season the “Solar World Cup.”

The technology that powers the TV is called, by the two groups, a “Solar Power Station.” It’s a small, plug-in device that captures the sun’s energy through the use of solar panels. There’s no complex wiring, to boot. According to KCYP’s solar project manager, Elizabeth Otieno, the station is essentially a box with solar panels and rechargeable batteries. When fully charged, the batteries can be used for six to 10 hours. The system can also be used to power other devices like lights or cell phones.

“The Kibera youth’s have now conquered the power of the sun,” said Executive Director of Solafrica Joshiah Ramogi, whose group has trained nearly 30 of Kibera’s youth to install solar power systems and make other energy products, like LED lamps, at a 2007 workshop in Nairobi, Kenya. The lamps will be sold in both Kibera and Switzerland. As for the goal of this solar power project, Romogi explains:

“We want to show residents of the slums the benefits of solar technology. We want to convince them to adapt to a new solar LED technology that will benefit them and their children.”

Check out ABC for a recent picture of the project.