Filipino charity lights up first Dhai Dubai festival

Dubai residents who have not yet seen the inaugural Dhai Dubai Light Art Festival are encouraged to visit Expo City Dubai this weekend.

Not only will they be amazed at the breathtaking light art installations but they can also learn and take part in a simple environment-friendly solution that could literally light up a whole community.

Philippines-based civic organisation Liter of Light is demonstrating how discarded one-litre plastic bottles can be turned into low-cost tubes that can light up the floating villages of the Manobo tribe in Agusan Marsh in the Philippines.

Several families and individuals have already lent their hands creating hand-built lights that could last for five years. Liter of Light was founded in 2014 and has, for a decade, provided lighting for around one million homes in several marginalised communities across 32 countries, including in Latin America, Africa and Asia.

“The Filipino movement ‘Liter of Light’ is keen to be a bright spot in tackling global energy poverty,” founder Illac Diaz said.

“We use recycled plastic bottles and locally sourced materials to illuminate homes, and our lights spark hope and create new, happy memories. It is a profound experience to empower people build something that can help other people in need.

The civic organisation initially started as a disaster-response initiative before growing into a movement. Now, Liter of Light is also providing livelihood opportunities. The solar reading lights, streetlights and mobile charging systems made from recycled plastic bottles, pottery and bamboo have helped communities learn green skills and engage in green jobs.

Diaz said they had worked with 600 women cooperatives and thousands of volunteers to assemble solar lights using readily available and easily repairable materials.

With its grassroots movement, Liter of Light has been given the 2016 St. Andrews Prize for the Environment, 2014-2015 World Habitat Award, and the $1.5 million Zayed Future Energy Prize in 2015.

Yousuf Caires, executive director, Expo Live Innovation Programme at Expo City Dubai, added: “Liter of Light was the first organisation to win an Expo Live Innovation Grant during our initial round back in 2016. It was clear to us that this global movement would generate meaningful impact not only through its solar lighting programmes, but also their commitment to advocate for change and raise awareness about the challenges arising from climate change.