Bringing Light to the Poor

Training installation teams has begun for the LightStrike solar bottle project! What is "LightStrike" ? Read on- 

 So many families live in darkness every day in the poor areas of the city, their windowless homes creating an atmosphere of despair.  For a few that have access to electricity, they often can’t afford to pay their bill and the power is cut off. The rest only have what little light that the entrance to their shack provides, or from light coming in the small holes on the tin roof. Most small shacks are built closely together with a dark narrow alley as the only access to these homes.

The lack of light lowers the productivity of many and the people feel apathetic. It is difficult to do tasks such as housework, students homework, and other daily activities. The use of candles is always a danger in the slums, but these residents must burn candles for light not only at night, but during the day.

One of our community projects, “Light Strike”, gathers volunteers to help provide free light for the homes of the poor.  Recycled soda bottles, filled with clean water and bleach, are installed in the roofs of shanty homes to create light with the equivalent of a 55 watt bulb. The soda bottles provide light during daylight hours. Sunlight enters the top of the bottle which is above the roof approximately five inches, then is refracted by the water and provides light shining through the part of the bottle that is under the roof. The bottle has been fitted and sealed on a square of corrugated tin then silicone sealant and rivets create a waterproof seal to prevent roof leaks.

 We first train volunteers within the neighborhoods to install these lights. The local barangay (community) leaders are contacted and their neighborhoods surveyed to make a list of the families in need of light. With the financial help from our friends in Rotary International, we are now training teams to provide LightStrikes in 8 barangays this year. They will also receive sets of tools and be able to continue to help their communities!

With the installation of the solar soda bottle light, we have found that families are less apathetic, more productive, and their quality of life is greatly   improved!