A solar lighting initiative by PhoScope
Sept. 20, 2020
SWANA Region Radio features Light for Lebanon in an interview with our partner Manal Kahale and our legal consultant Elizabeth Boulos. Click here to hear them explain the damages from the August 4, 2020 blast, the current situation on the ground, and how Light for Lebanon is aiding residents by providing them with much needed solar-powered lighting.
Sept. 3, 2020
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.
August 28, 2020
Three weeks ago on August 4, 2020, the largest non-nuclear explosion in history tore through Beirut, destroying homes, businesses and entire neighborhoods in this beautiful metropolis that was once called the Paris of the Middle East. The blast killed at least 218 people, injured 6,000 and left 300,000 homeless. An already shaky power grid sustained significant damage plunging much of the city into darkness after sunset.
This disaster unfolded on top of an existing economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic, and ongoing protests against decades of corruption. The silver lining lies in Lebanon’s creative, entrepreneurial citizens and their can-do spirit, as they mobilize to clean up and rebuild in place of their government.
Lebanese architectural lighting designer and activist Manal Kahale contacted Light Reach to assist her in bringing solar-powered lighting to the damaged areas. Our existing replicable and scalable model is readily adaptable to quickly bring some illumination to the darkened streets without having to wait for grid restoration or construction. In this effort we launched our newest program, Light for Lebanon.
It has been three weeks and citizens have been busy clearing the rubble, but reconstruction will require a large influx of funding, equipment and materials. In the meantime too many are still living in the dark. Please DONATE to help quickly bring back the light to Beirut.
August 7, 2020
Women in Lighting kicks off its T-shirt competition to broadcast our collective messages of Hope, Solidarity, Empowerment, Light and Equality.
All profits will benefit Light Reach — we are so thrilled by, and grateful for, WIL’s and all entrants’ creative support for our mission to advance global lighting equality!
Today the voices of Women in Lighting are more important than ever: what is your message to the world?
Submit your design on the WIL website between August 17th and September 30th. The top 10 winning T-Shirt designs will be produced and sold online at the WIL T-shirt shop — more details to follow.
June 25, 2020
In 1948, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to guarantee the fundamental rights of each and every person anywhere in the world. The declaration was forged in the context of decolonization and became the foundation for international human rights law.
Today, too many people have yet to achieve equal rights.
At PhoScope and Light Reach, we advocate for universal human rights.
Check out the full text on the UN website
March 8, 2020
Light Reach celebrates international women’s day with Women in Lighting and its one-year anniversary this week!
As a women-led initiative and organization, we are thrilled to join WiL’s global network of women and truly honored to be featured in arc magazine’s latest WiL feature article in an interview by Sarah Cullen.
One of the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations’ 2030 Agenda is to achieve gender equality. Light Reach offers a new avenue of social engagement for the lighting community to contribute to this agenda by fostering sustainability, resilience, and light equity: we expect that new WiL teams will soon be expanding Light Reach’s positive impact worldwide.
Light Reach is a collective effort. Please contact us at [email protected] to sponsor or partner on our next projects, volunteer on a team, or just connect.
February 26, 2020
Elisa Rothenbühler started her career in International Development, specializing in social programs improving maternal and child health. She then discovered her passion for design, and received her Master’s in Lighting and Interior Design in 2017. Her unique combination of knowledge and experience will be a valuable asset to Light Reach, and we are thrilled to have her on board!
February 7, 2020
Today the House approved an earthquake relief package for Puerto Rico, but the White House opposes releasing the funds. Meanwhile the island is still awaiting billions of dollars in aid approved for reconstruction after Hurricane Maria in 2017.
Puerto Rico has experienced hundreds of aftershocks since the 6.4 magnitude earthquake that shook the island on January 7th and caused an island-wide power outage. This is compounding existing damage from the devastating Hurricanes Maria and Irma that still hasn’t been adequately addressed. Maria caused the largest blackout in US history (second largest in the world!) and it took 11 months to restore power. This sequence of natural disasters and inadequate responses highlight the need for off-grid power.
Light Reach’s solar lighting kits provide an immediate solution to communities experiencing light poverty: they are rapidly deployable and easy to install. In the event of a hurricane, one kit allows a community to distribute 50 portable lights to families, and to shelter and immediately re-install 10 flood lights and 5 pole lights.
Together, we can do a lot. Help us bring resilient and sustainable lighting solutions to Puerto Rican communities. Please contact us to become a project sponsor, and donate: https://lightreach.net/donate/
October 28, 2019
Thank you to WeWork for hosting a multi-city fundraising marathon for Light Reach! Staff in six cities came up with their own lighting crafting idea, and NYC also held a raffle. We are very grateful for your support and for your belief in our mission to bring light equality. Here some photos from WeWork Tokyo, WeWork Bengaluru, and WeWork NYC.
October 7, 2019
Congratulations to our volunteer Ece Ozerdem who is a Challenge finalist and will be presenting her thesis project at PLDC 2019 (2017, Masters of Fine Arts in lighting design, Parsons, The New School)!
