Litro de Luz Brings Light to Communities
in the Amazon
BrazilFoundation grantee Litro de Luz just returned from an expedition to the Amazon to install light posts in the village of Caapiranga.
Using plastic bottles, solar lamps and innovation, Litro de Luz is working to bring light to communities in the North region of Brazil. According to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, more than 715,000 Brazilian families are not connected to the electric grid. In the state of Amazonas, some 5,600 rural communities lack regular access to electricity. Candles, diesel generators, and kerosene lanterns are the most common sources of light, and put the health of families and the environment at risk.
Providing better illumination for public spaces and residences can greatly reduce crime rates and violence, while improving conditions for people to work and study.
The most recent installation was performed in Caapiranga, a small town in the Amazonas state. Over five days, dozens of volunteers worked together with residents to bring light to homes, schools, streets and public squares. The residents themselves also learned how to install and perform maintenance on the light posts, for them to share and install in other communities.
“Thanks to the grant from BrazilFoundation, in partnership with Fundação Affonso Brandão, we were able to make our first expedition to the Amazon, installing 20 light posts and 10 solar lamps in riverside communities. We also trained our first community ambassadors (residents who would be responsible for replicating and implementing our technology in other communities).” – Laís Higashi, President of Um Litro de Luz.
Litro de Luz has brought light to communities in 21 countries, providing sustainable and cheap light sources in places that lack access to electricity. “We want a world where all children can read a book at home, where light is available to not just those who can pay for it.” – Vitor Belota, Founder of Um Litro de Luz – Brasil.
Photos: Bruna Arcangelo Toledo
[envira-gallery id=”15920″]
