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From the invention of a Brazilian mechanic to the creation of Litro de Luz, discover the chronology of the initiative, its founders, and the main milestones that transformed a simple idea into a social impact project.
Litro de Luz has become a reference in sustainable lighting solutions for communities. However, its journey began years before the official creation of the Brazilian organization. Initially, the inspiration came from the Moser Lamp, created by the mechanic Alfredo Moser in 2002, during the period of blackouts recorded in Brazil. Subsequently, the idea was adapted in the Philippines and, later, arrived in Brazil.
HOW THE MOSER LAMP EMERGED IN 2002
In 2002, during the blackouts that affected various Brazilian regions, Alfredo Moser developed a simple solution to illuminate environments during the day.
Thus, he used a PET bottle, water, and bleach. Then, the bottle was installed on the roof to take advantage of the incidence of sunlight.
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Teased at school for his long hair, the 5-year-old “Mini Haaland” from Camboriú went viral on the internet and received a message from Erling Haaland himself that silenced everyone: “don’t listen to what everyone says.”
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During the routine drainage of a lagoon in England, an employee found the nearly complete skeleton of a 10-meter, 180-million-year-old “sea dragon,” the largest and most complete marine reptile ever discovered in the United Kingdom.
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A college in Peru turned a street billboard into a ‘factory’ for drinking water that pulls moisture from the air: in three months, the panel produced almost 9,500 liters in one of the driest capitals on the planet.
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The coast of Pernambuco has more than a dozen deliberately sunken ships at the bottom of the sea, and what started as a junkyard has become one of the largest wreck diving parks in Brazil, a refuge for turtles and schools of fish.
Additionally, bleach was added to prevent the growth of algae inside the bottle.
In this way, the lighting produced came to approximately equal a 60-watt incandescent bulb.
Consequently, the invention allowed Moser to continue working in his workshop even during power supply interruptions.
Since then, the creation became known as the Moser Lamp.
THE ADAPTATION OF THE IDEA IN THE PHILIPPINES IN 2011
Years later, in 2011, a tsunami hit the Philippines and left thousands of families without electricity for several days.
In this context, Illac Diaz, founder of the MyShelter Foundation, identified in the Moser Lamp an alternative to assist affected communities.
At the same time, the proposal also encouraged the reuse of PET bottles in social projects.
Thus, the Liter of Light was born, an initiative incorporated into the MyShelter Foundation.
THE ARRIVAL OF LITRO DE LUZ IN BRAZIL
In December 2012, the Santa Catarina natives Alanna Sousa and Pedro Santos, with authorization from Illac Diaz and support from Camilo Herrera, founder of Liter of Light in Colombia, decided to implement the Brazilian project.
Soon after, in 2013, Vitor Belota, who learned about the initiative during a trip to Kenya, also sought to bring the project to the country.
Subsequently, the three joined forces.
As a result, a pilot project was conducted in two communities of Balneário Camboriú (SC).
The action took place in partnership with ESAG–UDESC, where the first daytime solutions of the Brazilian organization were installed.
THE OFFICIALIZATION OF THE ASSOCIATION IN 2014
In 2014, Liter of Light received sponsorship from Sika, a multinational in the construction chemicals and industry sector.
Initially, the company became the first commercial partner.
Subsequently, it became the first institutional partner of the organization.
Thanks to the partnership, daytime solutions were installed in the Frei Damião community, located in Greater Florianópolis.
Additionally, seeking to expand the project’s reach and enable registration in the Project Support Program (PAP) call for proposals, promoted by the Commercial and Industrial Association of Florianópolis (ACIF), Liter of Light was officially constituted as an association.
On this occasion, a unique CNPJ was registered, and Alanna Sousa, Pedro Santos, and Vitor Belota were recognized as co-founders.
WHERE THE CO-FOUNDERS ARE CURRENTLY
Subsequently, Alanna Sousa began working as an activist and professional in the audiovisual sector, with experience in social impact projects inside and outside Brazil.
Additionally, between 2016 and 2017, she represented Liter of Light in the United States.
Meanwhile, Pedro Santos became a PhD candidate in Wind Energy and moved to Germany.
Finally, Vitor Belota is part of the Advisory Board of Liter of Light and works in the social impact area.
CHRONOLOGY OF MAIN EVENTS
- 2002: Alfredo Moser creates the Moser Lamp during power outages in Brazil.
- 2011: Illac Diaz founds the Liter of Light in the Philippines after the tsunami.
- December 2012: Alanna Sousa and Pedro Santos begin implementing the project in Brazil.
- 2013: Vitor Belota joins the founders and the first pilot project takes place in Balneário Camboriú.
- 2014: Litro de Luz receives support from Sika and officially becomes an association with its own CNPJ.
- 2016–2017: Alanna Sousa represents Litro de Luz in the United States.
