LIGHT FOR LEBANON
Light Reach Launches a New Program in Beirut
On August 4th, the largest non-nuclear explosion in history tore through dense residential and commercial areas in Beirut, killing close to two hundred people, wounding 6,000 more and leaving more than 500,000 residents in immediate need of basic support. The blast damaged eighty percent of the residential buildings and infrastructure within a one to two mile radius including 50,000 residential units. This devastating blow tipped an already unstable electrical infrastructure into partial collapse, and plunged thousands of traumatized residents into darkness. This disaster unfolded on top of an existing economic crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic, and ongoing protests against decades of corruption. The silver lining lies in Lebanon’s creative, entrepreneurial citizens and their can-do spirit, as they mobilize to clean up and rebuild in place of their government.
Lebanese lighting designer Manal Kahale and the Light Reach team have partnered to launch LIGHT For LEBANON. Our new program will immediately support communities in Beirut with solar lighting solutions for indoor and outdoor use. Our existing replicable and scalable model is readily adaptable to quickly bring some illumination to the darkened streets without having to wait for grid restoration or construction. As horrific and intractable as the current situation appears, it also presents an opportunity to build back better. We are thrilled by the opportunity to help quickly and sustainably re-illuminate Beirut.
Lives in the dark matter. Together we can help people in Lebanon: we call on the whole lighting community to support LIGHT For LEBANON.
Learn more at https://lightreach.net/light-for-lebanon/
Light Reach is about life after dark. Our global charitable initiative, operated by the nonprofit PhoScope, uses a proven replicable and expandable project model to support global communities affected by light poverty with stationary and portable solar lighting products. PhoScope is incorporated in New York State as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and all donations to our programs are deductible to the full extent of the law.