How does one turn a simple idea into a global, grassroots movement? According to Liter of Light Founder and Global Director Illac Diaz, the key is to formulate accessible and repeatable solutions.
In an interview with GMI POST, Diaz shared the history and two core strategies that helped shape Litter of Light’s global success.
Established as a non-profit in 2013 after the destruction left by super typhoon Haiyan which affected around 14 million people in the Philippines, Liter of Light provides affordable, sustainable solar light to people with limited or no access to electricity.
Today, the organization says it has helped over 382,000 Filipinos and 690,000 people across 15 countries out of energy poverty.
Here’s how the organization started and nurtured its grassroots movement for accessible clean energy:
Strategy 1: Solutions must be hyperlocalized
“We were reading this paper by OCHA (U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) that highlighted the importance of hyperlocalizing or shrinking the supply chain when it comes to disaster relief. So we asked ourselves: How can we maximize local knowledge, local communities, and local skills instead of relying on external interventions?”
Taking inspiration from their research, Diaz explained that Liter of Light focused on empowering and upskilling its national network of local villages and rural communities.
The CEO said they partnered with other organizations to come up with sustainable livelihood programs and educational seminars so that communities are then able to build and maintain their own lighting systems which include street and home lights made from clear two-litter plastic bottles and PVC pipes, all sourced from local and recyclable materials.
According to Diaz, Liter of Light also took inspiration from Habitat for Humanity where donors aren’t expected to give away houses but rather the materials needed to build the necessary homes.
Strategy 2: Focus on what matters
“We have this statement on our wall, ‘The purest form of charity is to make yourself obsolete’. That’s our goal,” said Diaz as he explained that Liter of Light’s mission is to create a truly sustainable solution that is replicable and easy to implement.
Diaz adds that Litter of Light hopes to change the world’s old way of philanthropy wherein the focus is on one-time relief missions. Instead, the CEO said he’d rather empower people through knowledge and skill-building so they can thrive within their own local communities.
