Unite to Light

Unite to Light

Founded	2010 in Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Founder	John E. Bowers
Type	Charitable Organization
Legal status	501(c)(3) organization
Focus	Relief Services
Location	Santa Barbara, California, U.S.
Area served	International
Key people	Megan Birney, CEO John E. Bowers, Chairman of the Board of Directors Gisela Voss, Project Manager for Luke Light and Board of Directors Suzanne Cross, Africa Director and Board of Directors Claude Dorais, former President and Board of Directors Dawn Mitcham, Board of Directors Wade Nomora, Board of Directors
Revenue	$200,000
Website	http://www.unitetolight.org

Unite to Light is a Santa Barbara based nonprofit whose mission is to “manufacture and distribute efficient, durable, low cost solar lamps and solar chargers to people without access to electricity.” As of 2019, over 120,000 lights had been distributed to more than 70 countries.

History

In 2009 a professor visiting from Ghana, Osei Darkwa, lamented to faculty at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), Institute for Energy Efficiency (IEE) that students from rural parts of their country were unprepared for the rigors of the University. They noted that if the students had access to safe, affordable and reliable lights, students would be able to spend more time studying and also replace the kerosene lamps and candles that cause financial, health, and environmental issues. At the time, the available solar LED lights on the market cost $30, a price point far above what the average family in Ghana was able to spend.

The IEE team, in conjunction with UCSB’s Engineers Without Borders, designed, developed and began distribution of a new light in 2010 through the newly created non-governmental organization, Unite to Light. John E. Bowers, director of IEE, spearheaded the project, and the development of the light was aided by advice from scientist Shuji Nakamura and physicist Alan J. Heeger. The result is a durable water-resistant light with one rechargeable battery that can be made for $12 per light. They dubbed it the Luke Light.

Since 2010, Unite to Light has distributed this light throughout the globe. In time, it has also expanded the scope of those who receive the lights, the products available, and the economic models under which the lights are distributed.

In 2018 Unite to Light launched the sale of a new device, another solar light that also provides energy to charge cell phones. For every purchase of this device, another is donated to a community in need. This new product was in response to demand for a way to charge cell phones in areas without reliable electricity.

Projects

Roughly 2 billion people in the world do not have access to reliable electricity. Unite to Light manufactures and distributes efficient, durable, low cost solar lamps and solar chargers to people without access to electricity. Megan Birney, president of Unite to Light, says: “We focus on projects that help children learn to read and study at night, equip midwives with the tools they need to do their job, and to offer relief to those suffering from disasters.”

Education

A major area of focus for the Unite to Light project is on education, supplying lights to students who could use the lights to study at night. Not only were the kerosene lamps students usually used less reliable, but four hours of sitting near them to study caused exposure to fumes equal to smoking two packs of cigarettes. In areas where the Unite to Light’s solar lights were distributed, there was a recorded 30% improvement in students’ exam scores.

Global Relief

Partnering with the Safe Birth Even Here campaign and the United Nations Population Fund, Unite to Light created the Light for Life project, in which solar lights are distributed to midwives in conflict zones and rural regions. This is part of an effort to reduce the number of deaths from childbirth. In 2017, Unite to Light and UNFPA distributed 11,000 solar lights to the Bangladesh Midwifery Society for the Rohingya refugee mothers. They shifted focus in 2018 to aid midwives in Paraguay.

Local Relief

In 2017 Unite to Light partnered with Santa Barbara’s Safe Parking Program and distributed 50 Luke Lights and solar chargers to dehoused populations living out of their cars in Santa Barbara. This was brought about due to efforts from local donor Mike Tognotti. In 2019, through funding by SB Gives, Unite to Light distributed 72 more solar chargers.

Operations

Unite to Light functions under multiple business models. They are a traditional nonprofit, raising funds through donations and grants in order to make and donate lights.

Additionally, they sell through two different models. Under one model, Unite to Light sells lights at a discount to groups with entrepreneurial programs, such as Alight Zimbabwe Trust in Zimbabwe and Fonkoze in Hati. These groups then sell the lights to their community, which furthers economic development within these communities. Under the second model, Unite to Light employs a TOMS Shoes model, in which for every light they sell, they charge double and donate another light. This model is referred to as BOGO: Buy One, Give One. To distribute, they use strategic partners, including the Edna Alan Foundation in Somaliland and the Africa Schools of Kenya. Unite to Light stresses that they are careful to give away lights only to groups that would not have been able to afford lights at any cost so as to avoid economic disruption that can happen when not using the TOMS model responsibly.