Liter of Light just won the Startup Energy Transition Award 2020 in the Quality Access and SDG-7 category.
Out of 570 applications from 90 countries in the region, it is the only Philippine organization to receive this prestigious recognition from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy of Germany, its partner countries Canada and Sweden, and partners BayWa r.e., Berlin Partner, Elia Group, E.On Innovation, GTAI, InnoEnergy, Inven Capital, and Shell.
Liter of Light won the award for its current “Light it Forward” campaign, which unites artists, the media, businesses, and service groups to change the world from home.
Illac Diaz, Liter of Light’s Founder, and Ami Valdemoro, Director of the Board of Trustees, presented the case to an international jury of energy sector experts from around the world.
Andreas Kuhlmann, CEO of dena, stated: “Start-ups provide the fresh ideas and inspiration that energy transition and climate protection need. There are plenty of eager young companies, as the hundreds of SET Award applications show. This is encouraging, because we are shaping the climate-friendly future with innovative solutions and smart approaches. We want to harness the momentum of the SET start-ups and use it to propel the global energy transition.”
“We are honored to receive this award in recognition of our continuous work to help achieve United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 7: ensuring affordable, clean energy for all,” says Diaz. “We are especially proud to showcase how grassroots innovations from the Philippines and Asia are being recognized for their leadership in solving energy poverty even in the midst of this pandemic.”
The winning start-ups were selected following a high level jury meeting during the SET Week, which was held virtually for the first time ever. Liter of Light is joined by winners instagrid (Germany) in the Renewable Energies and Materials category, SwitchDin (Australia) in the Digital Energy Systems category, Enerbrain (Italy) in the Energy Efficiency Solutions category, EcoG (Germany) in the Smart Mobility category.
To learn more about the Startup Energy Transition Awards, visit the SET Award.
To learn more about Liter of Light and its Light It Forward campaign, visit:
www.lightitforward.ph
Instagram: @literoflight
Facebook: www.facebook.com/aliteroflight
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmkj2sShWG4O5xGdq15gB7A/
Working in 32 countries with over 2,700 youth ambassadors, Liter of Light is one of the largest organizations that works with youth to engage companies in Europe, Latin America, Southeast Asia, and Africa on building simple and repairable solar lights, mobile charging systems, and street lights. Using materials from within each community, the organization has empowered the
lives of over one million people a year, while creating opportunities for green micro business, and lowering carbon emissions by 1000kg per hand-built solar lamp.
Uniting artists, the media, businesses, and service groups to change the world from home, LIGHT IT FORWARD is a platform to pay tribute to the dedication and sacrifice of essential workers and front liners who are protecting the public during this unprecedented time.
By giving just 20 minutes of their time, “LIGHT IT FORWARD” gives Filipinos a new way to honor the front liners risking their lives to protect the public from the COVID-19 scourge.
Inspired by the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, LIGHT IT FORWARD invites ordinary people to do extraordinary things by building solar lights for communities without electricity, even in the midst of this global health crisis.
As of today, LIGHT IT FORWARD has counted on the support of over 120 celebrities, influencers, and artists, with an estimated total fan base of 30 million supporters.
Everyone who participates in the LIGHT IT FORWARD campaign will receive a kit that they will use to build a solar light, which takes less than 30 minutes to assemble. Liter of Light has created online videos to guide participants on how to assemble the devices. As the campaign gains traction, challenge participants have been asked to dedicate their light to an essential worker or frontline that has impacted them during the COVID-19 pandemic. After recording
their solar light building, each participant must challenge their friends to build a light.
The campaign is part of a broader strategy for Liter of Light, the official Philippine private sector representative to the upcoming World EXPO, which will take place in Dubai from October 2021 to March 2022.
The APSIPA-awarded Light it Forward campaign is led by the Liter of Light Foundation in partnership with GoodNewsPilipinas.com and the Rotary Club of Makati Business District.
