Bringing the light.

  As a lighting designer working for an environmental design firm comitted to sustainability in all aspects, I am particularly inspired by the idea of providing sustainable light in its most basic form and through that, changing lives. This October I will make a trip to rural Nepal to donate a solar lighting system.  The Himalayan Light Foundation provides photovoltaic panels, battery arrays and simple low wattage fluorescent lamps.  After arriving at the Himalayan Light Foundation headquaters, I will be trained in the installation and trouble shooting of the system.  From there I will travel with a local guide to deliver the system by bus, truck and finally by trekking the last few hours to the village. Home stays with a village family are provided for several days as we install the system and train the users on its maintenance and operation. 

  In Nepal, less than 15% of the rural population has access to electricity and the central grid is not expected to reach most remote populations for decades. Without access to artificial light, students can’t study after dark and adults are unable to do the handicrafts that provide subsistence level income. When artificial light is required people typically use kerosene, candles and wood.  These take precious resources to gather or purchase and produce sooty flames that are often linked to respiratory and eye diseases. A photovoltaic system can allow a school to educate students for several additional terms by increasing the operating hours and adding grades beyond the typical 1-5.

 I have been assigned a donor village !!  It is: Shree Bindrawati Secondary School, Masel, Gorkha District, Nepal

Masel village is 25 Km North from the district head quarter Pokharithok Bazaar. The school is in ward No. 5 with 659 students. The solar electrification is needed for conducting morning and evening classes and to operate a computer.

Current Class timetable:
Tuition class: Morning 4:00 AM till 9:00
Regular class: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Coaching class: 4:00 – 8:00 PM

The school is established in 2017 (1960). The required numbers of lights are 12 for 14 rooms.

 

For corporate sponsors, this is an excellent opportunity to show your support for sustainability and charitable causes. For significant donations, I will create a photo op showcasing your generosity at the site of the village photovoltaic installation for your use in marketing. Additionally, I will be presenting a slide show of my trip at several lighting industry events where your participation will reach the specification community

 

 This site is a good way to pay by credit card, 8% of your gift goes to fees.  Donations on this site will go directly to Himalayan Light foundation and will result in a receipt for tax purposes. HLF is a registered 501(c)  non- profit..  Any money raised above the goal will go to HLF to fund future lighting installations.

 

Please consider donating to this worthwhile cause. Please make a donation here through Firstgiving

Direct donations to HLF. Org can be made here through a check or paypal.

http://www.hlf.org.np/index.php?id=9

More information about Himalayan Light Foundation can be found here.  Thank you!     http://www.hlf.org.np/solarsisters/ 

                            Donor List

    (A huge thanks to all who donated and are making this all possible)

Atelier Ten (my employer)- will underwrite my airfare as a match to other donations  www.atelierten.com

Bartco Lighting - $1,000 www.bartcolighting.com

A. Light   - $500     www.alights.com

First Congregational Church of Cheshire  - $1,000 

Lions Club of Hebron Connecticut - $2,500

Pat and Steve Zwerling - $150