On February 2nd 2016, JJ-Pun unveiled a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, which plans to bring solar lighting to 100 rural off-grid villages in 2016, in order to help local communities. The initiative builds on Myanmar’s successful first Community Light Centre in Ngar Zinyine village (Tada-U), which has been in operation since last October,the company said in a press release.
“Community Light Centres” (CLC’s) are areas of approximately 1,000 square meters, the size of a small soccer pitch, illuminated using a new generation of highly efficient solar powered LED lighting. Initiated by Philips Lighting in Africa, the initiative has set up over one hundred such centres throughout the African continent in the last year alone.
Building on the success story of Philips in Africa, and seeing the great potential after installing Myanmar’s very first Community Light Centre in Upper Myanmar, JJ-Pun is now looking for partners to bring these solar lighting systems to an additional one hundred off-grid communities in Myanmar.
“Each Community Light Centre will come as a complete package, consisting of exclusively premium and sustainable technology parts, that will ensure the systems are running smoothly for many years to come.” said Saw Min Htet, Department Head for Lighting Solutions and Cable Technology at JJ-Pun.
Today, a full 84 percent of households in rural Myanmar have no light after nightfall, which puts serious constraints on the local communities of these areas. Having lighting after dark can not only help to improve overall safety for villagers, it can also act as motor to lessen social limitations and economic constraints, helping rural communities in their autonomous development efforts.
The Community Light Centre Initiative therefore targets to support thousands of these rural households, by lighting up public places in each village centre during night-time, enabling the local communities to effectively use the areas and their surroundings after sunset. “There’s a wide range of possible usages, from local soccer tournaments and cultural events, to small market activities, as well as education sessions and organizational meetings. All of these activities can help to bring these communities closer together, as they all share a common space that is available to everyone after dark.” noted Julian Stefan, Marketing & Business Development Manager at JJ-Pun.
“We fully believe in this project and in the great opportunities Community Light Centres can bring for Myanmar’s rural communities. That is why we’re very proud to already have a solid group of dedicated partners on board, supporting this initiative.” said Philipp Hoffmann, Managing Director of JJ-Pun.
With the importation process of all required material well on its way and potential locations for the Community Light Centres secured, the first installations are planned to start mid-year. Until then, the initiative will look for additional supporting members, interested in joining the project, in order to help improve the quality of life for people living off the electricity grid.