Notes from the Field

After a kerosene lamp was knocked over in the middle of the night, a deadly fire highlighted the need for safe, sustainable light in the village of Mtangani, Kenya.

According to the U.N., more than half of all Syrians have been displaced by the country’s civil war, and 5.6 million of these have fled the country, seeking asylum and safety abroad. Over the past several months, our humanitarian partners, Love Without Borders and Refugee Biriyani & Bananas, have made several trips to refugee camps in Greece, bringing with them LuminAID lights and other supplies.

Every summer, God Is Grace visits the women they sponsor in their homes in Uganda. Over the years, the organization has realized that lack of light was an issue for almost every woman they spoke to. This past summer God Is Grace visited Uganda as a LuminAID nonprofit partner supported by our Subsidy Program, and ninety-eight women received a solar lantern for their homes.

“They literally were dancing with joy when we showed them what the LuminAID solar light was and how to use it. There is no power there, so these lights make a huge impact on a family allowing them to see.”

LuminAID worked with international humanitarian organization, Mercy Corps, to raise funds for and distribute 1,300 PackLite Hero 2-in-1 Superchargers in North Carolina. The PackLite Hero Superchargers help families to feel safe at night with extra-bright LEDs and allows them to charge their phones and stay connected with emergency services and family members.

When Hurricane Michael wreaked havoc along the Florida panhandle, World Central Kitchen was there to feed the survivors by the light of LuminAID solar lantern + phone chargers. Chef Jose Andres, the founder of WCK, flew down to Panama City to help with relief efforts by cooking and distributing hot meals.

In November of 2018, Alex Ray joined Honduras Hope for an unforgettable trip to the Yoro region of Honduras. Honduras Hope is a small nonprofit based in New Hampshire that works in several impoverished communities in rural Honduras.

Second only to agriculture, craft-making is the second most common employment in rural areas worldwide. Many craft-makers must work in the light of kerosene lanterns, or restrict their work to daylight hours. Solar lanterns provide the safe and sufficient lighting that is integral for craft-makers and self-employed artisans.

Without access to electricity or other clean lighting options, health providers in these areas struggle to provide life-saving care after dark. Particularly in rural areas, LuminAID solar lighting can relieve the financial burden associated with fuel-based light sources, and allow these health clinics to focus precious funds on serving patients.