Empowering Turkey and Ukraine with Solar Light and Power
Summary
In 2023, SoLight Design committed to sending 30,000 donated SoLights to Ukraine and Turkey to support residents impacted by conflict and disaster who are living without consistent access to electricity. SoLights are personal devices thoughtfully designed to provide individualized access to solar energy. Their origami design differentiates Solar Lights from other similar products by eliminating the need for a mouth nozzle to inflate, and easily transforming from a flat polygon into cube and pyramid shapes with a simple pull-open action. These transportable lights also have phone charging capacity to provide consistent accessibility and light and power for cellular and small devices like tablets or laptops. SoLight will coordinate delivery of SoLights to the many villages on the eastern frontline Ukraine that have been severely impacted by war. In conjunction, SoLight will deliver lights to families and children without power in Turkey, focusing on delivery to aid centers, orphanages, and community organizations for effective distribution.
Approach
SoLight Design commits to sending 30,000 donated SoLights to Ukraine and Turkey to support residents impacted by conflict and disaster who are living without consistent access to electricity. SoLights are personal devices thoughtfully designed to provide individualized access to solar energy. Their origami design differentiates Solar Lights from other similar products by eliminating the need for a mouth nozzle to inflate, and easily transforming from a flat polygon into cube and pyramid shapes with a simple pull-open action.
These transportable lights also have phone charging capacity to provide consistent accessibility and light and power for cellular and small devices like tablets or laptops. Working in coordination with local non-profits, hospitals, and government officials, SoLight will coordinate delivery of 15,000 SoLights to the many villages on the eastern frontline that have been severely impacted by war. Having already delivered thousands of lights throughout the region, So-Light has existing relationships with local government and nonprofit entities who will support in distribution.
In conjunction, SoLight will deliver an additional 15,000 SoLights to families and children without power in Adana, Turkey who were impacted by the earthquake and are currently living without power. Delivery will be focused on aid centers, orphanages, and community organizations for effective distribution. Representatives from So-Light will travel directly to Ukraine and Turkey to deliver lights in partnership with existing aid organizations on the ground.
Action Plan
March to April 2023: Connect with organizations on the ground in Ukraine and Turkey to coordinate light delivery.
April to May 2023: Travel to Ukraine to deliver SoLight products.
May to June 2023: Travel to Turkey to deliver SoLight products.
June to December 2023: Develop communications about impacts of SoLight delivery, do interviews, promote on social media, etc; connect with organizations globally to fundraise for additional SoLight products.
December 2023 to December 2024: Coordinate and execute delivery of SoLight products to Ukraine and Turkey, in coordination with partners on the ground in those countries.
Background
Turkey and Syria are reeling as the death toll continues to climb after a magnitude 7.8 earthquake hit the region in February 2023, with just under 60,000 confirmed casualties and more than 100,000 injured across the two countries. According to the World Health Organization, 23 million people are displaced by the disaster. Disasters like this cause widespread loss of electricity, creating significant challenges for safety and recovery. Women and children are especially vulnerable.
Additionally, political conflicts that lead to violence and instability in regions create inconsistent access to electricity for residents and can create dangerous situations for individuals. In Ukraine, due to bombing of infrastructure – particularly power stations – in the ongoing conflict with Russia, residents in Lviv and Kyiv (as well as others across the country) are experiencing frequent blackouts for as much as 4-8 hours a day and unstable electricity access. The combination of air raids and black outs that leads to unstable, intermittent electricity access, creates significant emotional trauma for children and families, and severely limits important economic and personal activity.
Providing access to light to people experiencing the impacts of recent natural disasters or conflict is a central component of humanitarian response.
Progress Update
To date Solight has accomplished the delivery of their solar lights to Ukraine and Turkey with the Help of Love With out Boundaries and donors Bob iger and Willow Bay.
Solight personally delivered to these war zones and disaster areas. in 2023.
the number of units that were sent are approximately 10,00 units which has impacted approximately 50,000 refugees.
Solight’s original commitment impact was 30,000 people. However with the calculations of light and the benefit of light per house hold, Most family units are at least 5 people per house hold or tent for internally displaced individuals. The distribution of 10,000 lights impacted 50,000 individuals.
Partnership Opportunities
Financial resources, Implementing partners and best practice information for disaster response