MANILA, September 4, 2013 – Illac Diaz, the social entrepreneur who started the Liter of Light movement in 2011, is in the running for the Guardian International Development Achievement Award 2013.
The award is given by British newspaper The Guardian to honor individuals whose work has significantly contributed to the alleviation of poverty.
Diaz was nominated for the Liter of Light movement which he spearheaded in April 2011.
The project makes use of solar bottle bulbs, which was developed by Alfred Moser in 2002. The 55-watt bulbs are made of old plastic bottles which are filled with chlorine and water to refract sunlight. The bottles are then installed in homes which are in need of electricity.
Today, the bottles light up 28,000 homes in Metro Manila alone. The movement has also spread to other countries such as India, Indonesia, Colombia, and even Switzerland.
"Liter of Light is about a Filipino movement changing lives, giving light and as we grow in the number of provinces and nations it’s a great honor to have more countries recognizing the impact [the movement] is making," Diaz told adobo.
"Development leadership is one important area where it’s important to make a mark, that we are also leaders not just in entertainment and boxing, but in humanitarian work. We are not just beneficiaries, but also give back globally," he said.
Along with Diaz, nine other finalists are being considered for the award. The ten will be narrowed down to a shortlist of five following a public vote on the Guardian website, which will close on September 16. The winner will then be chosen from the shortlist by a panel of judges composed of Guardian editorial staff and international development experts.
Winners will receive a feature on the Guardian website and paper. A film will also be made about their work.
