ABOUT US

Our Work CHANGES LIVES.

Over 700 million people live without electricity. Access to clean, affordable light and energy is critical to improving health, education and prosperity. Unite to Light is dedicated to providing low-cost solar light and power to those without electricity across the globe. We do this as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization (EIN #27-2942180) so that we can help the most people.

Our products are the lights people need to live and thrive. We focus on projects that help students study at night, equip midwives with the tools they need to save lives, offer help and hope to those suffering from natural disasters, and provide light and power to our neighbors experiencing homelessness so they are able to connect to vital services and information.
Light by light we are changing the world.

Unite to Light.
Change a life.
Light the world.

Unite to Light operates primarily through the generosity of others. The majority of our lights have been distributed through the efforts of our nonprofit partners. These partners purchase lights from us, at cost, and then donate them to people in need. Unite to Light also has projects for which we raise funds focused on the areas of education, midwives, refugees, disaster response and homelessness. For these projects we seek donations, grants and corporate partnerships.

In addition, Unite to Light sells lights to people with electricity on a “Buy One | Give One” basis. This creates a pool of lights that we distribute according to our focus areas and community need.

In the Field

This Grandmére in rural Haiti takes care of her seven grandchildren and was overjoyed to have a light to cook by at night. Brought to her by Board Member Gisela Voss as part of a trip with WE Villages.

See Our Impact:

Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals, established by the United Nations in 2015, are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. Unite to Light supports this vision through our mission to provide clean, reliable light and power to people living without electricity. Out of the 17 global goals, we actively contribute to those focused on eliminating poverty, improving health, supporting education, advancing gender equality, expanding access to clean energy, reducing inequalities, combating climate change, and building strong partnerships.

Dr. Osei Darkwa, inspiration for founding Unite to Light.

Co-Founders: John Bowers, Director of the Institute for Energy Efficiency at UCSB, and Claude Dorais, the first President of Unite to Light.

Our History

Unite to Light started with a visit from Ghanaians Pastor Kofi Fosuhene and Dr. Osei Darkwa to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) in 2009. They explained that many people in Africa, who rely on kerosene for reading, suffer health problems and financial hardship. Aware of the work done at UCSB’s Institute for Energy Efficiency (IEE) on high-efficiency LED lights and high-efficiency solar cells, Fosuhene and Darkwa asked if the Institute could design an affordable reading light. Although solar-powered flashlights were available at the time, they were relatively expensive for students. In addition, the men were interested in reading lights because of the problems related to children and education, a focus for both.

The IEE team, in conjunction with UCSB’s Engineers Without Borders, designed, developed and began distribution of our original light in 2010 through the newly created non-governmental organization, Unite to Light. As of 2024, over 230,000 lights have been distributed to people in 78 countries.

Since then the original lamp has been redesigned to be waterproof and stronger, renamed Luke Light, and we have added an important Solar Charger to the product line because of how vital communication and connectedness are around the world.

DREAM BIG. DO BIGGER.

This is Luke. Smirking, always smirking. We lost Luke too soon. On the cusp of adulthood in 2012, his light was taken from this earth. Luke’s ability to see the light inside everyone defined who he was and how he lived in the world. He had a motto: “Dream Big. Do Bigger.”

His family and friends spread Luke’s spark by bringing light to people living in darkness. We were lucky and happy to partner to honor Luke with our little lights. Luke’s light lives on in every Luke Light we ship around the world. Thank you Luke for that twinkle in your eye, and for inspiring us.

LUKE VOSS-KERNAN, forever 19

CHANDLER MERILIEN, HAITI

Meet Chandler

Chandler Merilien is WE’s Community Organizer in Haiti. Since 2012, Chandler has worked with Unite to Light to spread light and education to rural communities. He explains how to use the Luke Light to children who have never seen an on/off switch before, let alone a solar panel. He gets the students excited every single time, whether he has introduced the light once or 30 times that day.

His work has improved student engagement, increased test scores and kept students in school. Seven schools that have received lights are now top performing for their region, with a passing rate of 80%. There has been an enhancement of the social impact on the community that unites the children. In addition, light can assuage a mother’s fear when her children walk home from school or do chores in the dark.

We have chosen the name Chandler for our Solar Charger because Chandler is tenacious, committed and exuberant; he radiates light with his personality. In Haiti where less than 30% of the population has access to electricity, the work of Chandler, WE and UTL has given children the gifts of light and education. “Chandler” also happens to mean candlemaker.

our packaging artwork: TOGETHER WE LIGHT THE WORLD.

DREAM BIG. DO BIGGER.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

At Unite to Light, we wholeheartedly believe that a diverse, equitable, and inclusive world is not just a goal but a fundamental necessity. Here, we strive to build a community in which every employee, board member, volunteer and recipient—regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education, familial status, or disability—feels valued and respected. We cherish the richness of diverse life experiences, heritages, and perspectives, ensuring that every voice is not only heard but celebrated with the utmost respect and dignity. Our commitment to modeling diversity and inclusion is unwavering, and we steadfastly build an environment where equitable treatment for all is not just a promise but a reality.