A solar lighting initiative by PhoScope

Introducing our new program partner for Light for Lebanon

By

Sept. 3, 2020

  • portrait of Manal

We are very pleased to introduce Manal Kahale as our partner for our newest program Light for Lebanon.

Raised in Lebanon, Manal studied Landscape Architecture at the American University of Beirut and holds a master’s degree in Lighting Design from Parsons in NYC. She worked in the USA for four years before returning to Lebanon to try and bridge both worlds through lighting. However, her return to her home country was more difficult than anticipated with the unfolding economic crisis as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, and finally on the 4th of August 2020, the biggest non-nuclear explosion ever recorded. This catastrophe unlocked feelings of communal support triggered by the complete absence of any relief efforts on the part of the Lebanese government. As a result, Manal decided to use her knowledge and experience to partake in relief efforts both as an active citizen and a lighting designer.

We are thrilled by this partnership and by the opportunity to quickly and sustainably re-illuminate Beirut.

Now working with three communities

By

March 1, 2019

We meet again with our partner Gustavo from Impec to refine the selection of all solar stationary lights…

and we head out to our second workshop where twenty residents of the barrio Mariana de Humacao await us… After another successful workshop, we test our new solar floodlights to help the community create landscape lighting on the playground.

The next day we join our new partner, La Maraña, on a visit to Comerío where we will soon launch our third pilot project.

We begin our second pilot project

By

January 11, 2019

  • Proyecto Enlace del Caño Martín Peña

Finally, we can install the first pole light … but we had to choose another location for the prototype, due to illegal dumping on the site they originally selected: Enlace and the community are working on this– to be continued.

  • Installation of first pole

Our team also goes to Humacao to meet with the community leaders of Barrio Mariana, and visits the playground which they are working on with La Maraña and where they would like to do a Recreo de Noche project (RDN2).

Our first workshop with children

By

November 16, 2018

Marién is back in San Juan for the pilot project of Recreo de Noche to do a workshop on light with children at the Mini Oratorio Los Hijos de Don Bosco. We also welcome Stephanie and Lorna who have joined the RDN team, as well as Llaima, who has volunteered to film the workshop.

  • three kids experimenting with portable lights
  • children in a lighting workshop

Despite torrential rains, the first workshop was a success: mission accomplished, and everyone asked for the next one! The installation of the pole light prototype that was scheduled with the community was cancelled, but our volunteers were able to test some landscape lighting effects with the four sample solar utility flood lights we purchased.

Our first trip to Puerto Rico!

By

September 14, 2018

  • photo of first visit to project partner enlace

Our team goes to Puerto Rico to meet with the Proyecto Enlace del Caño Martín Peña, our pilot project partners, and to review with them which of the Buena Vista Hato Rey community’s playgrounds is the best candidate for a pilot Recreo de Noche project (RDN1).

  • photo of first project site

We also visit the lighting retail store Impec and meet with the owners to discuss the project and establish a supply chain for the RDN program.

  • visiting impec
  • our distributor impec