Blog & Stories
Access to Internet is Transforming the Developing World
The AirBnb boom in Ethiopia In 2018, I had the opportunity to visit The impressive monolithic carved temples located at the mountain top town of Lalibela, Ethiopia. The destination attracts thousands of local and international tourists every year, and this
Light for Economic Development
The global market for kerosene used as a source of light is estimated to be $37 billion per year. This represents an enormous cost for the hundreds of millions of families that turn to burning fuels because they don’t have
How we got started
In 1997, Dr. Dave Irvine-Halliday, a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Calgary, had the vision to use LED lighting to bring practical, economical, and environmentally safe lighting to the developing world. While on sabbatical in Nepal, Dave
Pitumarca our biggest project… Yet! by Alex Jahp
Working together to make sure humanity has a better future We just finished our last project of 2019 with one of our main corporate partners, Wooree, at a junior high school in Hanchipacha, Pitumarca (Cusco). This past year in this
Rundle College Experience with LUTW in Peru
The following video was created by Rundle College student Amanda Lang. Last year when Amanda was in grade eleven, she travelled to Peru with Rundle and Light Up the World. Amanda describes the experience she had as life changing. Amanda
How to accomplish the #SDG7 by Andres Clavier
In 2015, The UN reached a major milestone by releasing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals SDGs for 2030 which Ban Ki Moon (the General Secretary at the time) called “humanities’ Plan A” as there was no Plan B “because there is no planet B” .
Bringing Light To Hanchipacha
A solar system changes lives in an off-grid community in Peru– In May 2019, 12 technical volunteers from the University of Calgary travelled to Peru with Light Up The World and IEEE SIGHT to install a solar system in Hanchipacha,
The impact of our work is real and has a face and a name
Sol is 7 years old. Her name means “Sun”. And it felt like some kind of poetic justice that my first solar project as a volunteer started in a school in rural Peru with Sol, or the “Sun”, following me
A Rundle College High School students experience Lighting up a Preschool!
This past spring break, a group of 19 students and four teachers had the opportunity to travel to Peru with Light Up the World. While working to install solar panels in the rural communities of Chilca and Hanchipacha, we were
Energy 4 everyone in Peru
The wheels touch down on a lonely airstrip north of Huaraz in Ancash Region, Peru. It’s 6am, the air is crisp and cool despite the sun beating closely down upon us. The excitement growing among our group is infectious as
An Inside Look at LUTW’s Social Enterprise
Nestled in a valley, deep in the Peruvian Andes lies the city of Huaraz, capital of the department of Ancash. Travelers will know this place for its scenic beauty and its easy-to-access, world class trekking and mountaineering routes. Few will
Why should I be helping people who live far away?
“As long as I am alive I want to help. Even if the only thing I can do is to wash dishes. I want to help others. Anywhere”– This is one of the first sentences I heard when I
SAIT students install PV systems in remote Peru
SAIT Electrical Engineering Students getting ready to embark on a volunteer based project in Peru with a goal of installing a PV systems in one of the remote off-grid communities. Last year our group has made a successful trip
Empowering communities in Peru with the sun
Mery and Gamaniel live in a rural community high up in the Peruvian Andes. Although the grid has been next to their home for twenty years, they have never had electricity. When the sun was down they cooked and worked
Making a Difference in Peru: SEDV Students experience with Light Up the World
Eager to get involved in the Calgary community and build on education gained in the classroom, the SEDV Society reached out to various local organizations, including Calgary-based non-profit, Light Up the World (LUTW), to determine what opportunities were available. Upon
A video of a lifetime experience!
“A picture is worth a thousand words”… Imagine a video! Please enjoy this video that one of the students of NAIT Alternative Energy Program put together after they travelled to Peru with LUTW. What an inspiring experience! https://bit.ly/2Q9MhWE Thank you all for your
Stories from the field: “Lighting It Up in Peru”
Travelling in Peru, I had several incredible experiences that have inspired me to finally pick up the (ahem, keyboard) again. From surfing in Lima and eating ceviche by the beach to hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, this was