LIGHT UP THE FUTURE - Addressing Challenges in Emerging and Developing Countries - Corporate Citizenship Activities - Sustainability

The "LIGHT UP THE FUTURE" PROJECT for off-grid areas LIGHT UP THE FUTURE

Japanese

“I was able to feel like a valuable person”- A ray of hope experienced by women suffering from Gender-Based violence in Kenya 2025.01.22

Indonesia

Bring a smile to everyone with lanterns! Lanterns donated to off-grid villages in Indonesia 2024.10.10

Philippines

The smiles of local people in an off-grid area of the Philippines, -Two years after the lantern donation, we take a look at the current state of the community- 2024.08.22

See here about other regional initiatives

Over 100,000 solar lanterns have been donated to
off-grid areas!
And now we're going even further.

Over 100,000 solar lanterns have been donated to off-grid areas! And now we're going even further.

”LIGHT UP THE FUTURE” PROJECT
This project picks up where the project to donate 100,000 solar lanterns left off,
bringing light to areas that have no electricity using Panasonic’s
renewable energy technology.
Working with partner organizations such as NPOs, NGOs and international groups,
support programs on the ground guide communities
toward sustainability and eliminate poverty by providing
opportunities for education, health, and increased income.

”LIGHT UP THE FUTURE” PROJECT
This project picks up where the project to donate 100,000 solar lanterns left off, bringing light to areas that have no electricity using Panasonic’s renewable energy technology.
Working with partner organizations such as NPOs, NGOs and international groups, support programs on the ground guide communities toward sustainability and eliminate poverty by providing opportunities for education, health, and increased income.

The "LIGHT UP THE FUTURE" PROJECT is
changing lives in off-grid areas

There are approximately 760 million people living in areas without electricity in the world*.
* source：IEA-World Energy Outlook2023

Off-grid areas「No light(electricity)（Nostudying at night, No improvement in academic performance, No medical treatment at night, Can't maintain health）Can't get a good job Can't increase income Situation does not improve」, Lifestyle changes enabled by light from renewwable energy「Light（electricity）available（Can study at night, Academic performance improves Can see a doctor at night and keep vaccines refrigerated, Better medical care maintains health）Employment is obtained income increases Poverty is alleviated Sustainable living with light(electricity) is possible.」

There are approximately 760 million people living in off-grid areas around the world.*

* source：IEA-World Energy Outlook2023

It all started with a single letter.

People living in off-grid areas face health hazards caused by the black smoke from kerosene lamps. Panasonic’s solar cells can solve this problem. Please provide us with your support. Minister of State for the Vice President’s Office, Republic of Uganda

In response to a letter from Uganda’s Minister of State,
Panasonic began developing lighting that uses renewable energy,
and in 2009 Uganda became the first to receive eco-friendly solar lanterns.
From 2013 to 2018, a total of 100,000 solar lanterns were donated
to 30 countries in Asia and Africa as part of the “100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project”.
Today, because many people still live in areas without electricity,
the “LIGHT UP THE FUTURE” project continues bringing light to people’s lives.
To date, over 120,000 solar lanterns have been delivered
to more than 30 countries and regions around the world.

In response to a letter from Uganda’s Minister of State, Panasonic began developing lighting that uses renewable energy, and in 2009 Uganda became the first to receive eco-friendly solar lanterns.
From 2013 to 2018, a total of 100,000 solar lanterns were donated to 30 countries in Asia and Africa as part of the “100 Thousand Solar Lanterns Project”.
Today, because many people still live in areas without electricity, the “LIGHT UP THE FUTURE” project continues bringing light to people’s lives.
To date, over 120,000 solar lanterns have been delivered to more than 30 countries and regions around the world.

Main Items Donated

Solar Lantern

Eneloop Solar Storage

Photovoltaic and
Energy Storage System

Support Programs to Improve People’s Lives

Technical support is provided and opportunities are created for education,
health, and increased income.

Support Programs to Improve People’s Lives

Technical support is provided and opportunities are created for education,
health, and increased income.

[Education]

Use for night study

Lights illuminating the student dormitory

[Health]

Under solar power
child born

Under solar power child born

Night medical treatment available

[Increased income]

Increased income
by making beads at night

Increased income by making beads at night

Use at night market

Support is provided to improve people's lives
in various regions of the world.

Since 2018, Panasonic has promoted the Off-Grid Solutions Project in villages in Indonesia, Myanmar, and Kenya. To achieve the intended social impact of sustainable growth in communities, we designed an activity process for each area that yielded a variety of results after two years of implementation.

Indonesia Activity Report >

Myanmar Activity Report >

Kenya Activity Report >

Support is provided to improve people's lives
in various regions of the world.

Since 2018, Panasonic has promoted the Off-Grid Solutions Project in villages in Indonesia, Myanmar, and Kenya. To achieve the intended social impact of sustainable growth in communities, we designed an activity process for each area that yielded a variety of results after two years of implementation.

Indonesia Activity Report >

Myanmar Activity Report >

Kenya Activity Report >

Changes Made Possible by Electric Light

Time spent studying at night 1.5h/day UP!

Donor Organization: UN Population Fund
Country name: Kenya
Period: 2022-2023
Survey method: Interview survey

Test pass rate for promotion to next grade 57% → 100%

Donor Organization: Saetanar
Country name: Myanmar
Period: 2015–2017
Survey method: School statistics

Donor Organization: Save the Children Japan
Country name: Myanmar
Period: 2015–2017
Survey method: Estimate based on health authority figures

Number of nighttime medical examinations 200 cases → 1000 cases / year

Donor Organization: World Vision Tanzania
Country name: Tanzania
Period: 2022
Survey method: Aggregated data from clinics

Money saved by not using kerosene 260 USD / year

Donor Organization: JELA
Country name: Cambodia
Period: 2022-2023
Survey method: Interview survey

Donor Organization: UN Population Fund
Country name: Kenya
Period: 2022-2023
Survey method: Interview survey

CO2 emitted from kerosene lamps approx.81,000 ton Reduce

Period : 2013 - 2022
Survey method : Based on our calculation
method

Period : 2013 - 2019
Survey method : Based on our calculation
method

People who feel it is safer to go out at night 94%

Donor Organization: ICAN
Country name: Djibouti
Period: 2022
Survey method: Interview survey

People who feel family interaction and communication have improved 100%

Donor Organization: JELA
Country name: Cambodia
Period: 2022-2023
Survey method: Interview survey

Past Donation Countries

Bringing light to off-grid areas.
Help bring light by donating
used books and other items!

Bringing light to off-grid areas.
Help bring light by donating
used books and other items!

The "LIGHT UP THE FUTURE" PROJECT ischanging lives in off-grid areas

It all started with a single letter.

Main Items Donated

Support Programs to Improve People’s Lives

Support Programs to Improve People’s Lives

Support is provided to improve people's livesin various regions of the world.

Support is provided to improve people's livesin various regions of the world.

Changes Made Possible by Electric Light

Past Donation Countries

The "LIGHT UP THE FUTURE" PROJECT is
changing lives in off-grid areas

Support is provided to improve people's lives
in various regions of the world.

Support is provided to improve people's lives
in various regions of the world.