Light Reach

We are investigating a new program in Turkey for those displaced by the earthquake. The region of Hatay appears to be suffering the most, with people living in container cities facing major power shortages. Are you, or do you know anyone near Hatay who could help survey the actual conditions for us? If so please DM us here or email [email protected]

Are you registered for IALD Enlighten Americas? Light Reach's Community Outreach Lead Jenny Werbell and Fundraising Ambassador Tina Aghassian will present our initiative at the upcoming IALD Enlighten Americas 2023 Rise and Shine conference on Saturday November 4th at 9:30am. Ticket link in bio. See you in Banff!

LEDucation 2023 was a great success, thank you ! We are very grateful to have such an engaged audience; thank you for coming to our presentation and asking such thoughtful questions. For those of you who expressed an interest in volunteering with us, please stay in touch! (You can DM us here.)
Huge thank you also to for this very meaningful award (last pic). Our CEO Nathalie Rozot won the first WIL award in the Initiative category for Light Reach in 2021, but didn’t receive the physical award because of the pandemic. was kind enough to present it after our talk.

We are thrilled to announce that Mar Mikhael Plaza project broke ground! We are working with Beirut Urban Lab, an interdisciplinary research space focused on urbanization and based in American University Beirut.  The project as a whole shares our mission to work in collaboration with beneficiary residents and business owners to create vibrant public spaces that strengthen community bonds. While BUL is a research center, this construction project serves as a pilot and social experiment on urban revitalization and making changes. Our solar powered lighting design will be a crucial part of this sustainable, resilient renewal.
Link to full article in bio.

Have you registered for LEDucation? Jenny Werbell and Nathalie Rozot will present “Light Reach Network: a Solar Framework for Philanthropy in Lighting” on March 7th. Registration link in bio. Thank you for the session highlight! We look forward to sharing our work and our ideas on how the lighting community can bring light to those in need.

The challenges of daily life in Lebanon are compounding and taking a toll as multiple crises escalate. Darkness is a simple problem to solve in a country blessed with abundant sunshine. As the year wraps up, we are grateful to have distributed and installed almost 4,000 solar-powered light fixtures in Beirut, and excited to soon be able to announce a new program outside of the capital where there is now greater need. Stay tuned for details and to find out how you can be involved.

In the meantime, donate to the link in our bio to bring solar powered lighting to villages in Lebanon.

Our CEO Nathalie Rozot will give the keynote address at the IES Annual Conference on August 20th in New Orleans. Come learn about how our parent organization, think tank PhoScope, reclaimed the Greek root for light to create a manifesto of neologisms that reposition the discipline of lighting design as Phototecture [f. Gk. phôs-, phōt- ‘light’ + Gk. tektōn ‘builder’]. She will also talk about PhoScope’s evolving initiatives including Light Reach. Ticket link in our bio.

One of the best things about our Light for Lebanon program are the amazing people we get to work with -- people who have been through tragedy and deprivation but still give their all to help their country. One such person is firefighter Wael Ghawi. His fire station was closest to the port explosion and the first to respond. The explosion happened right after his shift, but he immediately ran back to help his colleagues. He lost 10 teammates that day and had to go and recover their bodies. That trauma will stay with him forever. Wael shouldn’t have to work in the dark, which is why his station, which had been badly damaged, was one of the first locations where we installed solar lights. Ever since then Wael has been helping us with other installations all over Beirut – Wael is also a professional fisherman and diver, but can now add exterior lighting designer to his already impressive skillset!

We went back to Dar Al Awlad orphanage to see how the kids are making use of their newly lit outdoor spaces and they love it! Our lighting is working great — check out the last two images taken from the same angle, first with the lights off then with the lights on 😮 what a difference!

We are celebrating with our newest installation.

Laziza Brewery was a place of respite during the civil war, and neighbors have fond memories of enjoying an ice cold beer on its terrace. What was left of the building was destroyed in the horrific Beirut Blast, after which the community reclaimed the space and converted it into a garden. The great team at Rashet Kheir expanded on this initiative and planted fruit trees, built a community library, covered seating area, benches and planters for vegetables, and invited artists to graffiti the remaining walls. Community events and performances here will bring the neighbors together. This was such a fun installation! Stay tuned for more night shots when we go back for focusing soon.

Every Day is Earth Day at Light Reach! By installing solar-powered lights we are fighting climate change AND local pollution from diesel generators. We are also increasing safety, increasing working and recreational hours, and increasing economic security in Lebanon where half of the national debt is accrued by importing fuel for electricity.
 
The pictured streetlights haven’t worked at all since the devastating explosion in August 2020. But even if all the infrastructure were to be repaired, Lebanon cannot afford to import enough fuel to meet its electricity needs. It’s a no-brainer to use inexpensive, reliable solar-powered lights so that’s what we’re installing here at William Hawi garden, and in many other locations throughout Beirut. Residents around this park were fearful of criminal trespassers at night (these problems sadly increased with the economic crisis). The new lighting will deter crime and help residents safely walk home at night, and give them a place to gather after sunset.
 
We partnered on this project with , a youth-led NGO rehabilitating the entire park and re-activating this public space via socio-recreational activities for the community.
 
This important work is made possible by our generous sponsors:
.one .me .community

Every Day is Earth Day at Light Reach! By installing solar-powered lights we are fighting climate change AND local pollution from diesel generators. We are also increasing safety, increasing working and recreational hours, and increasing economic security in Lebanon where half of the national debt is accrued by importing fuel for electricity.
 
The pictured streetlights haven’t worked at all since the devastating explosion in August 2020. But even if all the infrastructure were to be repaired, Lebanon cannot afford to import enough fuel to meet its electricity needs. It’s a no-brainer to use inexpensive, reliable solar-powered lights, so that’s what we’re installing here at William Hawi garden and in many other locations throughout Beirut. Residents around this park were fearful of criminal trespassers at night (these problems sadly increased with the economic crisis). The new lighting will deter crime and help residents safely walk home at night, and give them a place to gather after sunset.
 
We partnered on this project with , a youth-led NGO rehabilitating the entire park and re-activating this public space via socio-recreational activities for the community.
 
This important work is made possible by our generous sponsors:
.one .me .community

“Dar El Awlad” means “The Children’s Home” in Arabic, and has provided a home for vulnerable kids for over 70 years. Some are orphans and others, as is increasingly common in the current economic crisis in Lebanon, come from families too poor to care for them. We provided the kids with portable solar lights, and today we installed solar landscape lights in their courtyard. The kids are now able to play and to learn, and more importantly to feel safe after the sun goes down.

Stay tuned as we go back next week to take photos of the kids playing in their new illuminated courtyard! .elawlad

This work is possible thanks to our generous sponsors: .one .me .community

Michelle Obama said “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.”

See our women-led team at Light Reach collaborating; inspiring and encouraging each other to do more, to do better. There is indeed no limit if we work together. Together we can bring lighting equality.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Michelle Obama said “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish.”

See our women-led team at Light Reach collaborating; inspiring and encouraging each other to do more, to do better. There is indeed no limit if we work together. We can make sure no one has to live in darkness. We can bring lighting equality.

Happy International Women’s Day!

Have you gotten your ticket yet? Our own Manal Kahale will present at Global Gathering on March 8th at 6:10am EST. Come celebrate Women’s Day with us! You may still be able to get a free ticket — link in bio.

A big thank you to our sponsors for the gifts of light they enabled in the last few months. Pictured here is the Christmas giveaway facilitated by where we donated 800 portable solar-powered lights to serve approximately 3,000 people living without electricity. They can now read, work, and play after sunset in the safety of their homes!

Thank you to .one .me .community

Thank you for your ongoing support! Please click the link in our bio to read the full post featuring Light Reach.

A warm thank you to our generous sponsors who helped us meet our Phase 1 goal of $100,000, and kick-started our Phase 2 goal of $150,000! Thanks to your support we purchased almost 4,000 solar-powered lights for Beirut, where there are only 2 hours of electricity per day and where too many live in darkness. We distributed almost 2,500 portable lights, installed almost 100 floodlights at building entrances, installed 10 streetlights and are working on installing another 50 streetlights in the coming weeks. We also illuminated a mobile playground for kids, a temporary art platform and public space, and the driveway of a fire station so the firefighters can safely enter and exit with their fire truck. We are humbled and incredibly grateful that we were able to help so many vulnerable residents in these difficult times. We also thank our many individual supporters — we could not do this important work without you!

We wish you all a healthy, peaceful and bright 2022.

.one .me .community

We kicked off the holiday season with a distribution of portable solar lights at Dar Al Awlad orphanage. We will also illuminate their courtyard so the kids have a safe place to play after sunset.

Lebanon has had an incredibly difficult year with the ongoing economic and political crises, living on 2 hours of electricity a day and a collapsed currency, through protests and lockdowns. Nothing makes us happier than to put a smile on the faces of these kids who are facing their challenges with such bravery. Help us bring light to Lebanon by donating to the link in our bio.

This choose to give light. The economic crisis shut down electricity production in Lebanon, but we can install solar-powered lights now for immediate relief. Donate to link in bio to re-illuminate Beirut, because light is about life after dark, and together we can relieve residents of the darkness.

Here is a sustainable Black Friday shopping idea that also does good: get yourself and your loved ones a WIL tshirt! For every tshirt purchased between today and midnight on cyber Monday WIL will plant a tree, and as always all profits benefit Light Reach! We thank WIL and all shoppers for your support. Go to bio for link to purchase.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! We are eternally grateful to our supporters, sponsors, volunteers, partners, and everyone who makes our important work possible. Special thanks to our fantastic team, you are an inspiration.

Our founder and CEO Nathalie Rozot will be the keynote speaker at SPOT Pop-Up Lighting 2021 by — have you registered yet? This hybrid event (in person and virtual) will include workshops, master classes, demonstrations and product launches and allow you to connect with other lighting enthusiasts in Mexico and beyond. Free registration link is in our bio — see you on November 9th!

Thank you Jaclyn Tersigni for this great profile of Light Reach! Click link in bio to read the full article.

The brilliant, truly inspiring teens running have chosen our program Light for Lebanon as beneficiary of their fundraiser to help with the energy crisis in Lebanon. We are honored! Register now for the virtual panel discussion October 31 at noon EDT, and support the important work we are doing bringing solar powered lighting to Beirut. Registration link in bio.
We especially encourage teenagers to attend and witness the power of youth!

It was a pleasure to illuminate this . Lack of electricity does not mean we can’t have art.

From TAP: “Billboard intervention by Omar Fakhoury and Christian Zahr: Terrace / صطيحة
Two solitary billboards stand along the high road overlooking Beirut's RiverLESS Forest. and flipped the vertical surface of one of the billboards to convert it to a terrace, a place of gathering overlooking the forest.

Inspired by Antony Gormley’s Fourth Plinth commission, the artists called on the public to activate Terrace / سطيحة as an open stage, inviting anyone to intervene throughout Art, Ecology and the Commons' ten-day program.
Photos by ”

Tune in October 8th for a virtual panel discussion with our partner Manal Kahale and other specialists on reconstructing Beirut. Link to register in bio.

Thank you to all who purchased tickets and donated! Thank you to our panel Francesca Bastianini , Leela Shanker , our partner Manal Kahale , our ceo Nathalie Rozot for sharing your insights and experience. Special thank you to Kelly Roberts and for hosting the event and making this possible, and to our inimitable moderator Sam Koerbel . We blew our $2500 fundraising goal out of the water!
If you purchased a ticket but couldn’t make the live event, we will send you a link to the recording as soon as it is ready.

Did you get your ticket to Lead with Light? If you are interested in social engagement through lighting, if you want to help communities facing darkness, come join this illuminating panel discussion on Sept 9th, hosted by . Panelists will talk about their work: Francesca Bastianini on Gowanus Lighting Project, Leela Shanker on “Open”, Nathalie Rozot on Light Reach, and Manal Kahale on Light for Lebanon . Moderated by the inimitable Sam Koerbel .
All ticket proceeds will benefit Light for Lebanon — help us re-lluminate Beirut!
Ticket link in bio. If you can’t make the live webinar we will send you a link to the recording. See you there!

We are thrilled to announce that thanks to our generous supporters, Phase 1 is fully funded! With our first 3,700 solar lights, we will soon have served around 1,600 families, 300 buildings, 10 streets, 1 park and 1 mobile playground.

We are officially kicking off Phase 2 by raising an additional $150,000 to purchase and distribute an additional 4,500 solar portables, 450 solar flood lights and 45 solar streetlights.

We thank our sponsors .one .me .
We also thank our many individual supporters. None of this important work is possible without your generous support!

There is a lot more work to be done. The current fuel crisis, compounding the existing economic and political crises, means fuel is completely unaffordable to many (if they can even find any). Through covid lockdowns and protests we are distributing and installing solar-powered lighting to give residents back their lives after sunset. Help us make sure that no one is left in the dark!

You’ve made it clear: we all need to do more. On let’s thank all the heroes who are out there saving lives and helping those in need, and let’s think about what we all can do to help. As lighting practitioners, we can bring light to those living in the dark.

Fight
Bring

Is light a basic human right? What responsibility does the architectural lighting industry have to help communities facing darkness? Join Women in Lighting + Design for an online panel discussion and fundraiser for Light Reach. Help us meet our $2,500 fundraising goal with this event that will benefit our program Light for Lebanon.

Tickets here https://secure.givelively.org/event/phoscope/light-for-lebanon/lead-with-light-responding-to-communities-in-need.

Can’t make the event? Purchase a ticket and we will send you a link to watch the recording.

See you soon!

We illuminated this mobile playground in Bourj Hammoud, a project conceived and built by and . Just one parking spot was needed to construct this creative safe space for kids. Lebanon faces multiple ongoing crises and challenges but we cannot let child development suffer — projects like this give hope!

Our brilliant partners and got a great write-up in ! They describe our work distributing and installing solar-powered portables, floodlights and streetlights to illuminate dark homes, streets and building entrances, providing security and giving Beirut residents back their lives after sunset.

https://www.lorientlejour.com/article/1271409/des-lampes-solaires-pour-eclairer-beyrouth.html

One year ago today, the largest non-nuclear explosion in history tore through Beirut, killing over 200 people, injuring 7,500 and leaving 300,000 homeless. We commemorate the victims and stand with the citizens who demand justice. And we do our part as lighting designers to help rebuild sustainably, re-illuminating Beirut with solar-powered lighting. You can help by donating https://secure.givelively.org/donate/phoscope/light-for-lebanon