About Us
Through the exploration of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), middle and high school students learn how to build sustainable renewable lighting systems for installation in off-grid communities.
These sustainable, renewable lighting systems then enable students in underserved countries to advance their educations while giving students here the opportunity to experience "service above self."
Emphasizing Science, Sustainability and Service Above Self, Lighting for Literacy's ultimate goal is to empower our next generation of humanitarians to make the world a better place.
Introduction to Lighting for Literacy
Background
Co-founders Jesse Salem and Doug McNeil have worked tirelessly to build global partnerships to inspire our next generation of youth.
Initial collaboration with the Los Gatos Morning Rotary, the Los Gatos United Methodist Church and a cadre of community volunteers helped launch Lighting for Literacy's first deployment to Colonet, Mexico. Read more about their inspiring background story.
expanded reach
From humble beginnings Lighting for Literacy now has a growing number of participants, partners and deployments including:
- Numerous Participating Schools (including middle schools, high schools and Baylor University to assemble units for deployment)
- Several International Project Sites (including Mexico, India, Zambia, Ghana, and Malawi)
- Humanitarian Global Partners
- Corporate Partners
- 1200+ Engaged Youth
Introduction to Lighting for Literacy
First deployment to Colonet, Mexico
Silicon Valley STEM Project/Science in Action
Deployment in Ghana
Special thanks from the children of the Tairu Orphanage in Ghana to the students of Fisher Middle School and the Los Gatos Morning Rotary.
It creates an opportunity for students to realize at a really young age that they can be humanitarians, or innovators, or entrepreneurs.
--Co-founder Doug McNeil