1,000 Miles for 1,000 Lights
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Imagine life without electricity. This is the reality for nearly a billion people who either go without light or must spend up to 30 percent of their income on lighting alone.
My wife, Jessica, and I started on an amazing journey five years ago to address this issue, leveraging Cisco’s Time2Give program. We were joined by Cisco colleague Todd Wilson.
Our passion has led us to undertake a 1,000-mile bike ride to raise funds and travel to far off places like Malawi, Africa to deliver lights to those in need. It’s instilled a profound sense of personal purpose nearly unimaginable before.
We support Watts of Love, a 12-year-old Non Governmental Organization (NGO) dedicated to providing safe, reliable solar lighting to 1.6 billion people mostly dependent on hazardous, expensive kerosene.
This sustainable initiative not only saves lives but also enables families to invest savings in livestock and other opportunities, bolstered by financial literacy training. It’s more than charity. It’s a catalyst for enduring change, helping these people ultimately succeed and aligning with Cisco’s culture of giving.
It’s been a whirlwind of experiences.
During a recent visit to Malawi, my wife actively participated in the distribution and training of solar light recipients. And last September, we completed a grueling 1,000-mile bike ride from New Jersey to Illinois, home of Watts of Love’s headquarters.
No matter how difficult it was, we kept our focus on the goal, knowing that what we were enduring was nothing compared to the challenges many people face every day.
Our efforts have yielded significant results:
- We raised more than $31,000, providing 620 solar lights
- Families saved 30 percent of their income, reinvesting $96,100 into their communities
- The lights have generated 1,357,800 hours of productivity, 148,800 hours of study time, impacting 4,340 lives
Last April, I joined a group of 11 from Watts of Love and fellow supporters on a journey to Malawi’s Dedza region. Together with local trainers, we spent four days traversing remote villages without electricity to distribute more than 1,250 lights.
The stark contrast between the villagers’ material scarcity and their abundant joy was striking. The sense of community and family was profound.
As we distributed lights and provided training, villagers warmly greeted us with songs, dances, and expressions of gratitude. These experiences enriched me immensely.
Witnessing the joy in Malawi’s Dedza region was humbling and reinforced our commitment.
Tyrone, a local poet, told us how he plans to use his light to achieve his dream of becoming a farmer, owning animals, and selling meat. He shared his thoughts in verse, thanking us profusely.
Throughout our journey, we heard similar stories from past recipients and the dreams of those we delivered lights to during our trip. These indelible memories will stay with me forever.
We’re planning the next 1,000 Miles for 1,000 Lights ride for September, from Beverly, Massachusetts to Watts of Love’s headquarters in Downers Grove, Illinois (roughly 1,025 miles).
Three of us, along with Cisco’s Brian McCauley and Michael Carlson, will ride to raise money in support of this cause. We encourage our Cisco colleagues to join us as we aim to surpass our previous efforts and address the urgent needs arising from Africa’s drought and hunger crisis.
With Cisco’s support and the relentless spirit of our global employees, we are dedicated to bringing hope and opportunity to thousands more and making a significant impact on ending generational poverty.
If our story moves you and you wish to learn more or join our mission, please reach out to me via Webex messaging (or email). Together, we can affirm “Zotheka” — which means, “It’s possible” in the local Chichewa language.
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