The LIT Lighting Design Awards proudly support an initiative to provide solar-powered lights to children in Gaza. In collaboration with Rebuilding Alliance, MPowered and Little Sun, this effort seeks to bring light and hope to children facing challenging conditions, enabling them to dream, study after dark, and experience a sense of security.
The LIT Lighting Design Awards is proud to announce that the 2024 Spotlight Prize recognizes the “Brighten the Future of Gaza’s Children” project, an initiative committed to making a meaningful impact and bringing light to a cause that will truly brighten lives.
Children in Gaza face immense challenges in continuing their education and engaging in play due to ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises. Many schools have been damaged or repurposed as shelters, leaving limited access to proper learning environments. Frequent power outages and lack of internet connectivity further disrupt education. Meanwhile, safe spaces for play are scarce, as parks and recreational areas are often unsafe or inaccessible. These challenges deprive children of critical developmental opportunities, compounding the emotional and psychological toll of living in a conflict zone.
In collaboration with Rebuilding Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing equal rights for Palestinian people and rebuilding war-torn neighbourhoods, the LIT Lighting Design Awards is funding the purchase of solar lights for children in Gaza. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, the LIT Lighting Design Awards is donating 1500 solar lights. These solar-powered lights will serve as lifelines for children, helping them study, play, and feel safe despite the darkness around them. Rebuilding Alliance has been working on the ground in Gaza for years, rebuilding homes, schools, and vital infrastructure to promote peace through practical action. In partnership with Little Sun, a German company founded by artist Olafur Eliasson and engineer Frederik Ottesen and MPOWERERD, which created Luci, the first inflatable solar light with the goal of making an affordable clean energy product that people could use in any situation; Rebuilding Alliance is delivering solar lights to those in need, ensuring that the children of Gaza have access to safe, sustainable, and eco-friendly lighting.
Donna Baranski-Walker, Founder and Executive Director of Rebuilding Alliance, expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the support, saying, “Thank you again for your incredible support. We deeply appreciate your kind words and the generous support you’re offering to the ‘Brighten the Future of Gaza’s Children’ project. Your donation will have a meaningful impact, and we are grateful for your commitment.”
The 2024 Spotlight Prize shines a light on the “Brighten the Future of Gaza’s Children” project, a powerful proof that design and lighting can make a meaningful difference. This initiative is driven purely by humanitarian efforts, focused solely on improving the lives of children in Gaza, without any political intent. Every participant in the awards has contributed to this cause, with their support directly advancing this impactful mission. Astrid Hébert, Director of the LIT Lighting Design Awards, shared, “This project is a powerful reminder of how design and lighting can bring hope and make a lasting impact. We are proud to support the ‘Brighten the Future of Gaza’s Children’ initiative, which demonstrates the true power of light in transforming lives, especially for the children who need it most.”
The images featured in this article showcase previous donations, as the current shipment of our solar lights is still en route to the region. The LIT Lighting Design Awards is committed to keeping the public informed as they work through the necessary logistics. Once the lights are successfully shipped to Jordan, the organization will announce the distribution plans and share updates, including photos of the lights reaching their new homes in Gaza.
Image Credit: Rebuilding Alliance. Please note that these photos are for reference only and depicts a previous shipment of solar lights to Gaza and Rapha.
