Rihanna-Founded Foundation Brings Solar-Powered Healthcare to the Eastern Caribbean

By S.Browne. Updated 11:55 a.m., Friday, July 25, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).

The Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF), founded by Robyn ‘Rihanna’ Fenty, has announced the launch of a solar-powered mobile health clinic in partnership with the St. Vincent Planned Parenthood Association (SVPPA).

This first-of-its-kind mobile clinic is designed to serve all 101,000 residents across the island nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with a specific focus on extending the SVPPA’s services to rural and vulnerable communities.

The purpose-built unit is engineered to navigate the country’s mountainous terrain and is also expected to commute to the multi-island state via ferry, delivering comprehensive reproductive and primary healthcare directly to those who need it most.

At the heart of this initiative is a shared commitment to sustainable, community-led impact. The clinic is fully solar-powered, reflecting CLF’s long-term investment in renewable energy solutions.

Its operations are sustained through an innovative public-private partnership. Liberty Caribbean Foundation, formerly The Cable and Wireless Charitable Foundation, has committed to providing internet and telephone services to the mobile clinic and the SVPPA’s headquarters for the next three years, supporting a future anchored in digital health infrastructure.

The Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines contributed by offering concessions for the importation of the clinic and its garage, which is built to withstand hurricanes up to Category 4.

Additionally, Industrial and Marine Services Ltd., a local private-sector construction company, was responsible for building and erecting the clinic’s custom-designed storage and maintenance facility, ensuring the mobile unit can be safely deployed and maintained throughout the year.

“This clinic represents more than mobile healthcare—it’s a symbol of climate-smart innovation and collaboration,” said Krystle Francis, Director of Programmes for the Caribbean at CLF. “We’ve created this pioneering initiative with our partners at the SVPPA to offer a new route to healthcare for communities that previously had to travel long distances for care. But further to that, we’ve cultivated a unique public-private partnership that ensures its long-term sustainability. It’s a testament to the power of collaboration between local government, non-profits, and the private sector to make healthcare equitable, resilient, and future-ready.”

Amina Doherty, Head of Programmes and Impact at CLF, added, “CLF is proud to support creative, community-driven solutions in the Caribbean. This solar-powered mobile clinic is an inspiring example of what’s possible, and we’re excited about its potential to expand access to healthcare across the region.”

The unit’s modular and shippable design also allows for rapid deployment throughout the Caribbean, positioning it as a vital regional asset in the wake of natural disasters, when health systems are often inaccessible or overwhelmed.

“We are honoured to join forces with the Clara Lionel Foundation and our national and regional partners to break down barriers to healthcare, especially for women, youths, and underserved communities,” said Elvis James, President of the St. Vincent Planned Parenthood Association. “This clinic is more than a mobile unit; it is a lifeline—both in everyday life and during times of crisis.”

The clinic is expected to begin providing services in late July 2025.

This information was sourced from a press release sent to us by the Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF).