A solar lighting initiative by PhoScope

Light Reach welcomes Jenny Werbell to the team

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Headshot of Jenny Werbell

April 30, 2021

Jenny Werbell, Community Outreach Coordinator, is a New York-based independent senior architectural lighting designer and a lighting educator.

As Community Outreach Coordinator, Jenny brings her extensive experience in marketing and communications, public programming coordination, fundraising event organization and committee work to spearhead Light Reach’s outreach efforts and fundraising events.

She holds a BA in Anthropology from Haverford College and a Masters in Fine Arts in Interior and Lighting Design from Parsons.

1,500 solar lights in Beirut

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April 22, 2021

Light Reach celebrates Earth Day with the first 1,500 solar lights for Light for Lebanon. We launched this program in response to the devastating port explosion that destroyed large swaths of Beirut in August 2020.

Beirut’s already unreliable electricity supply was crippled by the blast. With the ongoing economic crisis, the state electricity company cannot import enough fuel to power the country, so an informal network of diesel generators fills the gap. For too many people, generators, fuel and utility bills are simply not affordable, and they live in the dark.

Lighting accounts for 31% of residential electricity needs in Lebanon. Our solar lighting program reduces dependence on dirty and costly fuels, and frees up power for other urgent uses.

Our groundwork progresses rapidly (between lockdowns and curfews), and with our first 1,500 lights, we will soon have served about 800 families, 150 buildings, 5 streets and 1 park.

We work closely with fantastic local partners Beit el Baraka, Live Love Beirut, Al Chafaka, l’Ecoute and Nusaned to identify and serve those most in need,

Lighting is about more than light; it is about life after dark. Please spread the word and support our work – you can donate here.