Panasonic introduces 100 Thousand Solar Lantern Project

Electronics giant Panasonic has launched its 100 Thousand Solar Lantern Project which will see the company donate a total of 100,000 solar LED lanterns to people around the world with no access to electricity.

As part of the first phase of the project, Panasonic has donated 3,000 compact solar lights to four non-profit organisations and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for distribution to people in Myanmar. The four organisations are Bridge Asia Japan, Greater Mekong Initiative, Japan Heart and Myanmar Red Cross Society.

In March, the electronics giant will donate an additional 5,000 compact solar lights to an NGO in India as well as 2,000 lights to a refugee camp in Africa.

This is not the first time Panasonic has been involved in donating solar powered lights. In April 2011 the company donated 1,000 solar LED lanterns to Tanzania through a United Nations agency. This was followed by a donation of 2,000 lanterns to Cambodia in March 2012.

The success of such campaigns hs led to the launch of the 100 Thousand Solar Lantern Project, Panasonic states. 

According to Panasonic, there are around 1.32 billion people worldwide living without electricity, mainly in developing countries in Asia and Africa. The lack of electric light in these regions means challenges in the areas of healthcare, education and the economy.