Lighting Up Rural Island Communities Through Metal-Air LED Lantern Activated by Salt Water
Sustainable and cost-effective ecologically designed lantern activated by salt water to extend school and work hours in rural villages.
Written by Aisa Mijeno
I confirm that I am fully aware of the eligibility criteria, and based on its description, I am eligible to apply to the CSV Prize 2017.
- Yes, I'm eligible
Preferred language
- English
Organization name
SALtYear founded
2014Initiative stage
- Growth (the pilot has already launched and is starting to expand)
Annual budget in 2017 (USD)
- $10k - $50k
Number of beneficiaries impacted so far
- 500 - 1,000
Organization type
- Social enterprise
Secondary Focus Area
- Rural development
Headquarters location: Country
- Philippines
Headquarters location: City
117-A Technology Avenue, Laguna Technopark, Biñan, Laguna 4024Location(s) of impact
Philippines: - Barangay Bulalacao, Oriental Mindoro - Barangay Gabi, Carles, Iloilo - Buscalan, Tingalayan, Kalinga - Barangay Pamintahan, LipaWebsite
http://www.salt.ph
The Mountains of Kalinga
SALt Lantern Beneficiaries in Sitio Pilid, Calayan Island, Cagayan
A Grandma Using SALt Lantern in Carles, Iloilo
One of the SALt Lantern Beneficiaries in Barangay Laiban, Tanay, Rizal
Meeting with LGU in Barangay Gabi, Carles, Iloilo
Demonstrating SALt Lantern in the Island of Culion, Palawan
SALt Lantern Used as Camping Light in Mt. Daguldol
SALt Lantern First Model
Facebook URL
http://www.facebook.com/salt.ph/Twitter URL
http://twitter.com/SALtphProblem: What problem is this initiative trying to address?
1 out of 6 people still live without access to electricity, that is 16% of world's population about 1.2 billion people. And most of these communities use kerosene lanterns as their main source of lighting. Kerosene had become a commodity to households in unelectrified marginalized communities. We wanted to replace this with a more cost-effective, safe and environmentally friendly lighting option.Solution Summary: What is the proposed solution? What do you see as its most promising aspects for creating shared value?
Over the past 5 years, we have been researching on various materials to implement for the type of application that we have which is a lighting system. This led us to develop and design a system that will make use of metal-air battery concept that lasts much longer for lantern application than what is currently existing, making it more efficient for daily use. We have innovated a system that will make the materials and its physical properties much stronger used for such application. Inspired by the resiliency of the Filipino people, we have originally developed this system for rural island communities not connected to the power grid.Impact: What is the impact of the work to date? Specify both the social and the environmental impact of your work
The model that we are working on involves our organization marketing and selling to foundations, NGOs, LGUs and organizations heavily involved with CSR to keep us financially afloat while not straying from our advocacy. As of the moment, we have already successfully done our pilot to 4 villages around the country. Focusing on the local market, there are 293 NGOs registered under the Philippine Council for NGO Certification (PCNC, 2012). Three categories, namely; environmental, social development, and social welfare, were deemed related to SALt's product and advocacy. LGUs provide assistance to the residents who have experienced catastrophes or calamities. Thus, SALt can tap LGUs especially those prone to climate and geophysical disasters and those in unelectrified regions in order to deliver their products to these communities.Financial sustainability plan: How is this initiative financially supported? How will you ensure its financial sustainability long-term?
We have completed the research and development of our first and flagship product and have managed to raise $100,000.00 in cash or equivalent. We have partnered with key suppliers and manufacturing for mass production. We are currently raising through venture capitalists an amount that would be enough to help us roll the mass production for 6 months, after this, we will be able to sustain the production through lamp and anode refill sales.Unique value proposition: What makes your initiative innovative? How does your project differ from other organizations working in the same field?
We have 3 provisional patents and 1 utility model in submission. We have improved and innovated upon the longevity and the efficiency of the core technology. Finding the most effective combination of proprietary materials, ergonomics, and circuit design to bring about the technology that would be a more sustainable light source than the pervasive kerosene lanterns and weather-dependent solar lamps for typhoon-stricken areas and rural marginalized island communities.Founding story: Share a story about the "Aha!" moment that sparked the beginning of this initiative.
Aisa Mijeno, our CEO, and Co-founder is a faculty member of Engineering and Innovation Labs Director at De La Salle University — Lipa. Being a member of Greenpeace PH, she has traveled many places promoting environmental campaigns. She also loves hiking which brought her to the majestic mountains of northern Philippines where it all began. The product concept was formed after living with a tribe for days relying only on kerosene lamps to do evening chores.Where did you hear about the Nestlé Creating Shared Value Prize?
- Ashoka page or contact
Evaluation results
2 evaluations so far
1. Overall evaluation
5 - This idea rocked my world. It’s awesome! - 50%
4 - This idea seems really exciting. With a little more polishing, it’d be among my favorites. - 0%
3 - I think the idea is great, but it needs some work before it moves onto the next round. - 0%
2 - I liked it fine but preferred others. - 50%
1 - It didn’t make my heart beat faster. Needs significant revisions. - 0%
2. Innovation
5 - Absolutely, 100%! - 50%
4 - I feel really good about this - very promising - 50%
3 - This has some good elements and some areas for development - 0%
2 - This doesn’t inspire me so much - 0%
1 - This entry is weak here - 0%
3. Social and/or Environmental Impact
5 - Absolutely, 100%! - 0%
4 - I feel really good about this - very promising - 100%
3 - This has some good elements and some areas for development - 0%
2 - This doesn’t inspire me so much - 0%
1 - This entry is weak here - 0%
4. Financial sustainability
5 - Absolutely, 100%! - 0%
4 - I feel really good about this - very promising - 100%
3 - This has some good elements and some areas for development - 50%
2 - This doesn’t inspire me so much - 0%
1 - This entry is weak here - 0%
Nothing stands out! I thought it was great. - 0%
5. Potential to Scale / Replicability
5 - Absolutely, 100%! - 50%
4 - I feel really good about this - very promising - 0%
3 - This has some good elements and some areas for development - 50%
2 - This doesn’t inspire me so much - 0%
1 - This entry is weak here - 0%
6. Organizational Leadership
5 - Absolutely, 100%! - 0%
4 - I feel really good about this - very promising - 100%
3 - This has some good elements and some areas for development - 0%
2 - This doesn’t inspire me so much - 0%
1 - This entry is weak here - 0%
7. Potential for Creating Shared Value
5 - Absolutely, 100%! - 0%
4 - I feel really good about this - very promising - 50%
3 - This has some good elements and some areas for development - 50%
2 - This doesn’t inspire me so much - 0%
1 - This entry is weak here - 0%
Written by
8 comments
Join the conversation:
CommentMouhamadou Moustapha Seck
Aisa Mijeno
Mouhamadou Moustapha Seck