How Liter of Light radiated hope in dark corners of the world

This article is based on a Case Study presentation at the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit originally presented on 8 December 2022.

Illac Diaz, Founder of the Liter of Light Foundation, talks about how an affordable and sustainable light source emerged from the depths of a dark situation

Illac Diaz has encountered many individuals who harbor preconceived notions about developing countries, including his homeland, the Philippines. Determined to combat this unfair portrayal, he rejects the notion that the Philippines should be reduced to a mere image of squalor, dirt, and mosquito-infested environments. This image did not align with the reality that he knew. 

Driven by a desire to challenge these misconceptions, an inspiring idea took root within Diaz. He decided to spearhead a non-profit organization that’s aimed at bringing light and hope to countless lives around the globe. And thus, the initiative known as Liter of Light was born.  

Founded on a compassionate approach to home technology, the Liter of Light project was launched to bring light and hope to underserved communities, such as those found in Diaz’s homeland. The initiative, which goes beyond providing a sustainable source of light to countless homes, sought to dismantle the stereotypes that often unfairly cast developing countries as mere victims of circumstances. 

From beneficiary to benefactor

Liter of Light is a social enterprise with a singular mission: to provide affordable, sustainable solar light to people with limited or no access to electricity. This initiative, which won the 2015 Zayed Sustainability Prize, was a grassroots movement formed to bring lighting solutions to many communities in developing nations. It took the devastating typhoons in the Philippines for this idea to take shape.  

In his Humanitarian Tech Keynote speech at the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit 2022, Diaz told of how, following a typhoon in the Philippines, it took five months for electricity to be restored. He highlighted that the potential for electricity generation existed through Sun Power, one of the country’s major solar cell producers. However, he emphasised that the people lacked the empowerment to harness the available resources and restore their own access to light. 

According to Diaz, this situation could have been avoided, as the necessary components for harnessing solar power were readily available, including LEDs sourced from motorcycles, radio parts, and batteries from vaping machines and chargers. These materials, he explained, held the potential to provide solar lights for up to five years. He added that the project earned its name, “Liter of Light,” owing to the ingenious use of reusable and low-cost plastic bottles as a key element in creating a sustainable source of illumination.  

Diaz became galvanised by the knowledge that people could bring light into their own homes. Leading the foundation, he approached numerous volunteers, including over 100 companies, urging them to participate in the initiative. He requested that these potential volunteers purchase the required materials to bring light to refugee camps and dedicate a few minutes of their time to assemble the solar lighting solutions. 

However, faced with this unconventional approach, many of them declined and instead suggested the more conventional approach of sourcing materials from countries like India and China. But Diaz and his team remained undeterred. 

“We didn’t rely on a single factory; instead, we produced all the lights right in the villages themselves,” Diaz explained. “We collaborated with corporate partners who helped us build solar lights. Then, we added a 25% contribution on top of that, allowing us to provide the lights free of charge to villages.” 

He added that the impact is twofold — not only do the villagers benefit from having access to these lights, but they can even generate income by renting them out. 

Diaz doesn’t like that the Philippines is perennially portrayed as a victim, especially in the face of climate change, which disproportionately affects developing nations. The Liter of Light project was compelling proof that doesn’t always have to be the case, indeed. 

Women-led cooperatives light the way

Diaz observed that women-led cooperatives have emerged as the driving force behind the continued expansion of the Liter of Light project. They provided vital services involving the installation of streetlights, mobile charging systems, and household lighting, ensuring that the impact of Liter of Light reached every corner of their villages.  

These cooperatives mostly used repurposed materials, with plastic bottles serving as lenses, symbolising the project’s sustainability. In addition, the cooperatives ensured self-sufficiency by maintaining and repairing the lighting systems themselves, with over 650 women cooperatives globally sustaining the lighting infrastructure. 

This article was originally published on ARES White Paper Volume 3. For more information, visit AsiaRealEstateSummit.com or email [email protected].