Liter of Light, a Filipino-born global grassroots solar lighting movement, is launching the “LIGHT IT FORWARD” CHALLENGE on Wednesday, July 1, uniting artists, the media, businesses, and the public sector to change the world from home.
By giving just 20 minutes of their time, LIGHT IT FORWARD is giving Filipinos a new way to connect for good. Inspired by the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, the campaign harnesses the power of social media to spread its message, allowing people to take action from home.
As the Philippines moves into a new normal after the initial onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic, many non-profit organisations have been forced to close. Those who can still operate, like Liter of Light, are shifting to online platforms and strategies to be able to continue with their mission-critical work.
Through launching the first ever digital to offline campaign of its kind, LIGHT IT FORWARD invites ordinary people to do extraordinary things through building solar lights for communities without electricity, even in the midst of this global health crisis.
“The Covid-19 pandemic forced us to rethink how to move forward with our mission of bringing light and hope to the 20 million Filipinos who are still living in darkness,” said Illac Diaz, Founder and Executive Director of Liter of Light.
“The LIGHT IT FORWARD CHALLENGE invites everyone to be a part of the solution by giving their time and talent to those who need it most, all from the safety of home.”
At its launch, LIGHT IT FORWARD counts on the support of celebrities like Dingdong Dantes, Angel Locsin, Mark McMahon, Ellen Adarna, Beauty Gonzales, and Janelle Tee, each of whom will build a light and challenge others to join the campaign.
Everyone who participates in the LIGHT IT FORWARD campaign will receive a kit that they will use to build a solar light, which takes less than 30 minutes to assemble.
Liter of Light has created online videos to guide participants on how to assemble the devices. After recording their solar light building, each participant must challenge their friends to build a light.
All LIGHT IT FORWARD challenge participants and each person who they challenge will be able to see who built a light; who the challenge was passed on to; and the communities who received the lights through a map. The map aims to show the bigger impact that a single light can have through this new way of bayanihan.
Each of the organisation’s hand-built solar lights reduces carbon emissions by 1000 kg over five years by replacing traditional forms of lighting like burning kerosene, which are hazardous and expensive to use.
The campaign is part of a broader strategy for Liter of Light, as the first Filipino private sector representative to the upcoming World Expo, which will be held from October 2021 to March 2022 in Dubai, UAE. Out of 7,000 entries, Liter of Light was selected as the first private sector representative to participate in the EXPO LIVE Impact Innovation programme.
With the main theme of “Connecting Minds, Creating the Future”, 120 changemakers were selected from over 7,000 applications to showcase the way that their solutions are paving the way for a cleaner, greener tomorrow.
“LIGHT IT FORWARD is just the beginning,” says Diaz. “Filipinos have been the light of the world during this global crisis - as first responders, nurses, doctors, and essential workers on the front lines. From hospitals, to health care centers, and even at home, we are known for the way we care for others. At this time of great darkness, we want to shine a light on how Filipino malasakit is paving a way for a brighter future in a tangible, measurable way.”
To participate in Light It Forward, visit www.literoflight.org/lightitforward
About Liter of Light:
Working in 32 countries with over 2,700 youth ambassadors, Liter of Light is one of the largest organizations that works with youth to engage companies in Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa on building simple and repairable solar lights, mobile charging systems, and street lights. Using materials from within each community, the organisation has empowered the lives of over one million people a year, while creating opportunities for green micro business, and lowering carbon emissions by 1000kg per hand-built solar lamp.
About Bridge360:
Bridge360 is a social tech enterprise. They bridge the gaps between different social strata, on one hand, and between public and private sectors, on the other through hardware and software innovations using talent and resources here in the Philippines. Bridge360 aims to become a force for helping in the digital transformation of NGOs, SMEs and startups companies across ASEAN.
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