Signify Foundation

On the eve of the International Day of Light, we gathered at the High Tech Campus Eindhoven to reflect on the power of light, and people, in shaping development. Through a panel discussion, we brought together voices from across the development sector, health, education, refugee support, and financing, to discuss how to adapt in the face of growing needs and shrinking budgets. The conversation was candid and critical, yet full of hope. Our key takeaways: Leadership & Responsibility: "Who will step in where we can see who we thought would be responsible are now failing us? This will be the question that echoes for the next couple years." - Gavriel Landau, Charm Impact Power in Partnerships & Localisation: "We are exploring all kinds of partnerships to strengthen our position. Besides that, we have a strong focus on localisation—helping communities to become more self-sufficient, organise their own programmes, and more." - Annemieke Nuesink, SOS Kinderdorpen Nederland Light and Hope: "The day they were installed by the Signify Foundation marked a new beginning for all of us, suddenly the whole place was bright, playgrounds became a place of gathering again." - Marjon Durang, SOS Kinderdorpen Nederland (Quoting children) Collaboration on the Path Forward: "The unfortunate situation, with funding cuts, opens up a new way of going forward, in forcing actors to more significantly look to each other and help each other through certain new developments." - Eduard Holtz, AMREF Health Africa Doing More With Less: "The needs of people forced to flee have grown tremendously over the last decades. And the needs have outgrown the budget. This forces us to be critical, to be more efficient and to sharpen our focus."- Gerbren Deves, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR Nederland, de VN-Vluchtelingenorganisatie) Gavriel Landau, Annemieke Nuesink, Marjon Durang, Eduard Holtz, Gerbren Deves

Last week, in celebration of the International Day of Light, we reflected on the transformative power of light—and shared a deeper look into our work with the launch of the Signify Foundation 2024 Annual Report. 2024 was a pivotal year for the Foundation - we launched our Brighter communities program at scale, reaching over 1 million people globally with lighting solutions that support essential services and community spaces. We are pleased to present our 2024 Annual Report which highlights key numbers, impact stories, and a glimpse into what’s next for the work we do at the Foundation. Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/ediWh2tr

On the eve of the International Day of Light, we are proud to celebrate a milestone that speaks to the heart of our mission: lighting 10 million lives since our founding in 2017. While the scale of this achievement is something we are incredibly proud of - it is the individual stories behind the number that matter most. Our program focuses on empowering #Brightercommunities through light. Through our work, we see light as more than a basic utility. It is a catalyst for opportunity, safety, and connection. In this video from Maluku, Indonesia, we meet Iswayudhi, Lastri, and Agus - three people with different challenges, yet all part of one community strengthened by something as simple and essential as light. In many parts of Maluku, electricity is still out of reach. People rely on Kerosene lamps, resin, or firewood to get through the night, posing health and environmental risks and limiting what is possible after sundown. Access to light has helped extend productive hours, supporting stronger livelihoods, better care, and more time for community connection. These are just a few of the many stories that bring this milestone to life, and a reminder of the transformational power of light when shared with purpose. #InternationalDayOfLight #10MillionLivesLit #BrighterCommunities 

As we celebrate the International Day of Light this week, we're taking a moment to reflect on the journey we've been on since our founding in 2017 - to bring light to underserved communities around the world. Nearly 750 million people globally still live without access to energy, leaving reliable lighting out of reach. From our first solar lantern library at a high school in Uganda in 2017, to enabling eucalyptus oil distillers in Indonesia to continue production at night just last year, we have seen how access to light can empower individuals and their communities. While there is still much to be done, these stories remind us of the far-reaching impact of light and offer hope for the journey ahead. Explore the power of light over the years in this edition of Beyond Light 👇 https://lnkd.in/ezsZhXP5

We were proud to take part in the ninth edition of the Cruyff Legacy 14K, where a record 7,500 participants came together in and around the Johan Cruijff ArenA to honor the legacy of Johan Cruyff. Together, we helped raise €2,041 for the Johan Cruyff Foundation, supporting children through the power of sport. As a long-standing partner, the Signify Foundation continues to support the Cruyff Foundation by lighting up playgrounds and Cruyff Courts around the world — creating safe, accessible spaces for children to play and grow. Faizal Mahomed, Gary Throup, Diana Lam, Tom Lodge, Kala Vasudevan, Sharon Underwood, Rafael Salas, Xinran (Seren) Liu, Yue Cui, Marloes Mulder #CruyffLegacy14K #JohanCruyffFoundation #SignifyFoundation #Brighterlearning

Last week, we had the pleasure of joining our partner WereldOuders at the 2025 Impact Fair in Utrecht — a day filled with inspiring conversations and meaningful connections. Together, we shared the story of our lighting projects under Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos™ in Latin America, including a video from our recent collaboration in the Dominican Republic 👉🏽 https://lnkd.in/eV8-DCFr We also had the opportunity to connect with other impact-driven organizations, exchanging ideas on how we can continue building a brighter future. A big thank you to WereldOuders and everyone we met at the fair for the inspiration, collaboration, and shared vision! Yue Cui Marieke Helleman Pauline Lemberger

It's International Women's Day! A day to celebrate women's achievements and raise awareness of the far-reaching impact of gender inequality on women and girls worldwide. But the future of girls is at risk. Conflict, natural disasters, and poverty are pushing them further into vulnerability. What a time to be a girl...    The fight for their future has never been more urgent. Together with Plan International Nederland, we support today's girls so that they can become the strong women of tomorrow. So, join us and let's make a difference together. #IWD2025 #InternationalWomensDay #whatatimetobeagirl

Last week, Signify published their 2024 Annual Report, showcasing the extraordinary potential of light to create brighter lives and a better world. We are proud to see one of our projects featured, highlighting how energy-efficient LED lighting is transforming education for 86,000 students in Kenya. With better-lit classrooms, students can achieve improved educational outcomes, while schools benefit from energy cost savings that can be reinvested into education. 📖 Read more on page 24 of the report: https://lnkd.in/d6b5FPQh

Following the devastating 2023 earthquakes, the villages of Douar Aguerd and Douar Agansou in Morocco were left in darkness. With damaged poles and cables cutting off electricity and no street lighting along the 2km road between them, life came to a standstill after sundown. Movement between villages—even for emergencies or to fetch water from the well—became nearly impossible. With our partner LIONS Club Unité ENCG Settat, we have provided solar lighting to support rebuilding and recovery of the remote villages, illuminating streets, communal areas, and sports fields so that daily life can continue safely after dark. More than 300 families now have access to light, restoring mobility, security, and a sense of normalcy. LIONS Club Unité ENCG Settat also played a crucial role in providing immediate relief following the earthquake—distributing food baskets, blankets, coats, and winter essentials, as well as offering medical support in the earthquake’s aftermath. As the first lights switched on, villagers watched their community illuminated for the first time in months. These moments serve as a powerful reminder of how light is more than just visibility—it can symbolise hope, resilience, and a new beginning. Anissa Abbou, Salma Jbilou El Joumri, Rajaa Jabri, LIONS Club Unité ENCG Settat

📣Session 3 Recap | From fragility to resilience: Community-driven solutions for lasting urban change This roundtable discussion explored how community-driven solutions can foster lasting urban resilience. Experts highlighted the importance of local engagement, gender inclusion, and rapid rebuilding to drive meaningful change in fragile settings. Key takeaways: 🏘 Community-Led Solutions – "Communities have the best solutions to their own challenges. We need to include them in the process and co-create solutions together." Makuta, Habitat for Humanity Zambia 👩💼 Empowering Women in Urban Planning – "Women often cope in silence. To truly and meaningfully involve them in urban planning, we must start with empowerment." Yue Cui, Signify Foundation ⏳ The Urgency of Rebuilding – "Speed matters: the sooner rebuilding begins, the sooner families can return home, the faster the recovery cycle unfolds." Olivia Nielsen, Miyamoto International The discussion reinforced the need for collaborative, locally driven solutions that empower communities to shape their own futures. #UrbanFragility #GlobalStability