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Shining a Light on Education and Empowerment in Rural Uganda

11/21/2024

Access to light and menstrual health products is often overlooked and taken for granted, yet these seemingly basic needs can be life-changing. For the girls and young women in Uganda’s rural Mityana District, they’re transformative. Growing Up Uganda, a community organization dedicated to improving the lives of girls and young women, recently teamed up with Unite to Light to make a profound impact on these communities.

Hurricane Helene Recovery Efforts

11/18/2024

Luke Lights being packed by ShelterBox in North Carolina. Video courtesy ShelterBox USA.

In September 2024, Hurricane Helene brought a level of devastation to western North Carolina that few anticipated. As one of the most intense storms to impact the region in recent history, Helene defied expectations by maintaining extraordinary strength over inland areas and causing unprecedented rainfall. The storm rapidly intensified, fueled by record-high ocean temperatures, and unleashed a torrent of destruction, particularly in mountainous areas like Asheville and the surrounding towns. Communities experienced over 30 inches of rain in some locations, leading to catastrophic flooding, landslides, and widespread infrastructure collapse.

Education without Barriers: A Brighter Future

11/11/2024

Caption: “The solar lights have been a great game changer for our school. Students can now study well into the evening without worrying about the power going out. We have seen a remarkable improvement in their enthusiasm for learning”. -Mr. Bwayo Dominic, Headteacher of Bumwalye Primary School

In areas without consistent access to electricity, achieving an undisrupted education can be challenging. When electricity is scarce, even basic study tasks become obstacles. Students and teachers in the Bududa, Namisindwa, and Manafwa districts in Uganda express that constant outages and limited access to electricity at home have made it difficult to study in the evening, affecting academic performance and preparation for critical exams to continue their education. As a response, Unite to Light partnered with Arlington Academy of Hope Uganda to distribute 2,000 solar Luke Lights to 38 schools in these districts, aiming to bring students sustainable and affordable lighting, so they can study, learn, and grow without the barrier of darkness.

Glowing Success: Unite to Light The Night - Lights the Night & the World

10/31/2024

Dancers enjoy the Bright Bash. Photo by Sarita Relis for Unite to Light

Unite to Light recently hosted our third annual "Unite to Light the Night" art festival and fundraiser at the Community Arts Workshop in Santa Barbara on October 18th and 19th. This vibrant event brought together over 50 artists and performers who used light as either their medium or inspiration, showcasing creativity and innovation in illuminating ways.

Illuminate Change

8/29/2024

Unite to Light, the Santa Barbara-based non-profit, continues its mission to shine a light in the darkest corners of the globe, and in our community! Just when you thought Santa Barbara couldn’t get any brighter, Unite to Light the Night, the organization's flagship fundraising event, is back for a third year, ready to outshine itself. Guests will experience Breathing Space, where your breath becomes one with the planet, by Jonathan Smith, Alan Macy, and Tai Rodrig. Carlos Grasso’s COLORSPACE uses simple changes in light to upend your perception of reality, while Louise Gerber's Colored Shadows will make you rethink the power of a simple shadow. Mark your calendars for October 18th and 19th, 2024 for this two-day event

Commercial Energy Sustainability

8/1/2024

In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, sustainability has transitioned from a buzzword to a critical imperative. Companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of reducing energy use, not only to cut costs but also to align with global efforts to combat climate change. As businesses strive to minimize their environmental footprint, a comprehensive approach that includes smart procurement practices, energy efficiency improvements, renewable energy generation, and thoughtful carbon offsetting becomes essential.

Lighting the Way: How Solar Lamps are Transforming Healthcare in the Central African Republic

7/25/2024

Sometimes a country is so far away, and their problems so big, it can seem impossible for us to help, but Unite to Light, in partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is proving that every person and every dollar matters. Unite to Light used their annual fundraising art festival, Unite to Light the Night, to send 2,000 solar Luke Lights to the UNFPA in the Central African Republic (CAR). Every $10 donated at the event put a solar light in the hands of a midwife or a community healthcare worker. These little lights are transforming lives for health care workers and their patients. Unite to Light is honored to work with the UNFPA and their partners in CAR, and grateful to our supporters for funding lights to where they are desperately needed.

Midwife on duty at the Mboko Landja Health Center using the Luke Light. Photo Credit: UNFPA

Unite to Light and Backpacks for the Street Partner to Empower New York City's Homeless Population with Solar Chargers

7/19/2024

Gabriel is a double amputee living on the streets. With little options for charging his phone, a solar Charger is a lifeline. Photo Credit: Backpacks for the Street.

Unite to Light, dedicated to providing solar lights and chargers to people living without electricity worldwide, is proud to announce a partnership with Backpacks for the Street (BFTS), a New York City-based nonprofit that supportive services to the city's homeless population. As part of this collaboration, Unite to Light has donated 50 solar powered Chandler Chargers to BFTS, a small step towards addressing the critical need for reliable power among New York City's unsheltered community.

Luke Light Gains Global Recognition with VeraSol Certification

7/11/2024

Santa Barbara, CA - We are proud to announce that our innovative Luke Light has earned the esteemed VeraSol certification. For 13 years, Unite to Light has been dedicated to distributing solar lights globally, and this certification marks a significant milestone in their mission to provide sustainable, clean energy solutions.

Turn the Page Uganda: A Successful Delivery

5/22/2024

An educator from Lira, Uganda.

The trek from California to Uganda is certainly not easy, as Turn the Page Uganda volunteer Vicky Harbison has come to learn. Navigating the ins and outs of international travel is difficult enough on its own, let alone with an additional 80 pounds of solar lights at her side. On her way through Ugandan customs, she was stopped for her suspicious luggage and lack of formal paperwork approving it. This is it, she thought; she had made it all this way just to be stopped right before the finish line. Yet, 139 lights is better than none, right? Noticing the curiosity of the airport employee, she offered her one of the lights. The employee eased up a bit, and after almost 24 hours of travel time, Vicky, and 139 of the 140 lights, made it.

Unite to Light is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation (EIN: 27-2942180).
All donations are tax deductible.
With a billion people living in darkness, we have a lot of work to do!
Address: Unite to Light, 1117 State Street #19
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Phone: (805) 617-0590
Email: [email protected]

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