Light Up The World Foundation (LUTW) utilizes Solid State Lighting technologies powered by renewable resources to enhance the quality of life of the poor in the developing world. Founded in 1997 by Dr. Dave Irvine-Halliday, LUTW is a humanitarian initiative whose chief goal is to assist poor villagers in the developing world obtain a useful, healthy, safe, reliable, rugged, affordable and environmentally friendly White Light Emitting Diode (WLED) based form of home lighting.

This major goal is being achieved using low energy (1-Watt) WLEDs. A child can read by the light of a single WLED which consumes less than 1 Watt. Thus, a rural home can be lit to a very useful level of illumination with only 1 Watt. Solid-State lighting technology can reorient development strategies toward the creation of enterprise, increased employment, enhanced income and gender equity, health and safety, and protection of the physical environment.

In many areas of the world, there are villages surrounded by fertile land, and the people of the villages are willing to apply their skills and energy to generate income. However, in most villages there is very little work and activity, and the people are desperate for money and resources. Many leave their villages to search for work in the cities. One way to address this problem is through a system of food production called "Permaculture".

Permaculture is a way of producing food and managing resources far more efficiently than with conventional modern large-scale farming. Permaculture uses natural methods to enrich soil and to build self-sufficient systems with minimal waste. Using permaculture techniques, villagers can develop their own land for growing organic vegetables. This creates jobs and generates income for the local people, preventing the loss of cultural integrity caused by migration to larger cities.

Works of Wonder International has been invited by two of the traditional leaders of the Mavuso provinces in the Eastern Cape region of South Africa to design a project that will help the people in that area escape the trap of poverty. Our proposal includes a plan to apply permaculture principles that will help the Mavuso villagers develop their land and grow organic vegetables for sale.

A plot of land near the Mavuso village has been assigned by Chief Langa Mavuso for this purpose. On that plot, W.O.W., in partnership with other local groups, will develop 1 hectare to grow commercial vegetables. The developed land will be fenced and supplied with irrigation. Seven people from the village will take full-time responsibility for the project. We estimate that by the end of the first year, the land will produce R150,000 (about $18,000) worth of organic vegetables.

The International Association for Human Values has a program called "Breath, Water, Sound" that has been taught to more than one million people around the world.

It is designed specifically to support disadvantaged people and those challenged by poverty, substance abuse or other negative patterns in life.

Participants experience reduced stress, increased energy levels, and a greater sense of belonging and responsibility for themselves and for their communities.

Youth leaders from the local community are trained to administer the program, which includes breathing exercises that help alleviate physical and emotional stress, simple meditation techniques that improve clarity of thought and productivity, as well as practical instruction in everyday concerns such as hygine and healthy diet.

Follow-up sessions, also conducted by the youth leaders, bring the community together to celebrate and share ideas for collective improvement.

To see a video of Works of Wonder co-founder Alice Holliday describing the Breath, Water, Sound program, please click here: South Africa - The Eastern Cape