UN in NYC

Light is like air in many places - it just exists

But in Burundi..

Imagine you’re a student..

or a health clinic..

The Situation

● Energy poor, only 3% have access to electricity grid

● Most forced to source their own light (wood, kerosene)

● Rely on these costly, dim, and unhealthy energy sources

● Some home have single, small-scale electric lights purchased through UNICEF-sponsored program

● Both lighting types need amplification - one light is not sufficient to light a room

Our Focus

Make existing small, cheap lighting bigger

The Idea

● To teach communities to construct their own new daytime lighting, and amplify existing nighttime lighting without adding extra power requirements

(Initially for small electric lights, but will work with any small/cheap lighting)

The Daytime Light

What we’re teaching:

1) Construction of “Water Bottle Light”

● Installed in a building’s roof

● Requires no electricity - directs sunlight into a room using the refracting power of water

● Can be made of scrap materials

Nighttime Light Amplifier

What we’re teaching:

2) Construction of amplifying (reflective) cone attachment to Water Bottle Light to connect with:

● Any small electric light, such as the Nuru light (provided through UNICEF-sponsored lighting program, Project Lumiere)

Complete Lighting System Diagram

Special thanks to Yuye, electrical engineer at Columbia specializing in optics, who consulted on the project design

The Prototype

Our Focus

New movement toteach

how to make existing small, cheap lighting bigger

Amplify System in the Community

● Amplify is at core a women’s and youth empowerment project

● Working through Solidarity Groups of women that are already active in Burundi, we are creating a system to teach women and children how to build. Produced infographic-based “Instructable” manual.

● Products will:○ Improve quality of life○ Provide opportunities to improve making + innovation skills○ Provide income (eventually, units can be sold by these groups for

revenue)

Scale + The Future

● Start with small-scale workshops with Solidarity Groups and other existing women and children-focused groups. Leverage existing Project Lumiere and associated lights.

● Expand project scope to include a revenue generation source. Units can be sold for revenue by groups.

● Expand to other groups and countries with lessons learned.

● Grand vision: global platform for DIY maker instructions designed for developing world needs + revenue generation.