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A solar lighting initiative by PhoScope

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Lightreach Network workshop

Recreo de Noche

From Hurricanes to Earthquakes: Puerto Rico’s Darkness Calls for Resilient Lighting Systems.

By //  by Miina Matsuoka

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/

Filed Under: Program Tagged With: RDN, Recreo de Noche

Another workshop in Comerío

By //  by Miina Matsuoka

July 6, 2019

We continue working with the communities of La Vuelta del Dos and Los Guaretos in Comerío, and we donate portable lights and floodlights for the workshop. the community will install the pole lights in the coming weeks!

Filed Under: Project Tagged With: Comerio, RDN3, Recreo de Noche

We start our third pilot project

By //  by Miina Matsuoka

May 18, 2019

Our team holds a first workshop with La Maraña and the communities of La Vuelta del Dos and Los Guaretos in Comerío. Residents learn about light and experiment with our equipment. 

Filed Under: Project Tagged With: RDN3, Recreo de Noche

Our third workshop on light!

By //  by Miina Matsuoka

April 12, 2019

  • We held our second workshop in Barrio Mariana

Marién and her team meet again with the community of Mariana, this time to decide where the five light poles will be installed next month on the fantastic playground designed by La Maraña.

  • photo of a hand drawn plan of the site showing where lights will be installed

    Filed Under: Project Tagged With: Barrio Mariana, RDN2, Recreo de Noche

    DLFNY becomes our first Platinum Sponsor!

    By //  by PhoScope

    March 5, 2019

    Designers Lighting Forum of New York City, DLFNY
    Designers Lighting Forum of NYC

    DLFNY (Designers Lighting Forum of NYC) is now our highest sponsor after the board voted to extend seed funding for (Recreo de Noche) RDN with $5K in additional funds: we and the communities we serve are very grateful.

    Filed Under: Funding Tagged With: Designers Lighting Forum of NYC, DLFNY, Funding, Recreo de Noche

    Now working with three communities

    By //  by Miina Matsuoka

    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.

    Filed Under: Project Tagged With: RDN3, Recreo de Noche

    We begin our second pilot project

    By //  by Miina Matsuoka

    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).

    Filed Under: Project Tagged With: installation, pilot project, RDN1, RDN2, Recreo de Noche

    Our first workshop with children

    By //  by Miina Matsuoka

    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.

    Filed Under: Project Tagged With: Light, Light Reach, Mini Oratorio Los Hijos de Don Bosco, Puerto Rico, RDN1, Recreo de Noche, San Juan

    Our first trip to Puerto Rico!

    By //  by PhoScope

    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

    Filed Under: Project Tagged With: Enlace, Proyecto Enlace del Caño Martín Peña, RDN1, Recreo de Noche

    Seed funding for Recreo de Noche!

    By //  by PhoScope

    July 15, 2018

    We received seed funding for our first pilot project under the Recreo de Noche program in Puerto Rico! Thank you to Designers Lighting Forum of New York (DLFNY) and Illuminating Engineering Society (IESNYC)!

    logo for designers lighting forum NY
    logo for illuminating engineering society

    Days are short in the tropics, and PhoScope is launching Recreo de Noche in Puerto Rico to rapidly deploy solar lighting in community playgrounds for use after sunset. This program will serve the immediate recreational and social needs of many Puerto Ricans who are deprived of electrical power.

    • Recreo de Noche

    Recreo de Noche is a replicable model for the procurement of a kit of solar lighting products for community groups who will distribute and install them in collaboration with teams of volunteers. The volunteers will moderate public discussions and hold participatory workshops on light and lighting.

    • diagram of our solar lighting kits

    Filed Under: Funding Tagged With: Designers Lighting Forum of New York, DLFNY, Funding, IESNYC, Illuminating Engineering Society New York City, Light Reach, Nathalie Rozot, Puerto Rico, Recreo de Noche, Seed Funding

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    Light Reach is an initiative developed and operated by PhoScope, a think tank on light and a registered 501c3 not-for-profit organization.

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