Little SunYear in Pictures 2016

Thank you for joining us on another trip around the mighty sun we all share. We created this Year in Pictures to chronicle some of our favourite moments from our sun-circuit together in 2016.

January

The Upaya Zen Center and the Nomads Clinic brought light and hope to Kathmandu, for those affected by the devastating earthquake, as well as to the Dolpo, a remote, off-grid region of the Himalayas. Photo: Cira Crowell and Kigaku Noah Rossetter

…and it’s glorious start to the year as Olafur is honoured with a Crystal Award in Davos, in no small part for his engagement with Little Sun. The award brought Little Sun into the spotlight at the World Economic Forum. Photo: World Economic Forum

Artist Ai Weiwei distributed much needed lamps to refugees on Lesvos Island, Greece. Photo: Ai Weiwei

February

A bright start to the year as students of Berlin Kids International Kindergarten created a solar art exhibition called ‘Sun + Energy + Art’, hosted by our partners KinderKünsteZentrum. Photo: Little Sun

From a solar forum in Senegal, to Ambiente, Frankfurt, one of the largest trade fairs in the world, Little Sun’s February was all about showcasing the forthcoming Little Sun Charge to a global audience. Photo: Little Sun

March

The lives of many refugees in Uganda and Rwanda were changed in March when they received Little Sun lamps as part of our humanitarian aid program with our partners UNESCO, UNHCR, Windle Trust Uganda and Plan International. It was a powerful beginning for Little Sun’s launch in Rwanda with partner SaferRwanda – bringing light to those who need it there most as well as providing local business opportunities and encouraging entrepreneurship. Photo: SaferRwanda

Small business owners are finally able to work more efficiently with Little Sun Charge, even during power cuts. Photo: SaferRwanda

Refugees in Ugana receive Little Suns as part of our humanitarian aid program. Photo: Father Mugisha Nestus

April

German public international broadcaster, Deutsche Welle travelled with us from Little Sun to shoot  with the amazing team from Alight Little Sun Zimbabwe. The result was one of the best TV features on Little Sun yet, highlighting how solar lamps can change lives in rural Zimbabwe. Photos: Little Sun

We’re honoured that Little Sun Original was selected to be featured in the permanent collection of  one of the world’s leading design museums – the Cooper Hewitt (Smithsonian Design) Museum in New York. Our little yellow lamp featured in their exhibition, ‘Energising the Everyday.’ Photo: Matt Flynn

May

What a month! We became a two-product company with the official launch of Little Sun Charge, our much-anticipated solar charger for mobile phones, cameras, MP3 players and more. We celebrated our new little brother, as well as the launch of our fresh new website. Little Sun travelled to the Venice Biennale to shine a light for solar change and drone delivery as part of the Norman Foster Foundation Droneport Project. Photo: Dennis Chang

We also spread the word of our humanitarian work at the World Humanitarian Forum in Istanbul, including the urgent distribution of Little Sun lamps to female IDPs in the midst of crisis in South SudanPhoto: Oxfam

June

Kicking off a solar-charged summer, the (Little) Sun King, Olafur Eliasson, took over the Palace of Versailles with special edition Little Suns available. Photo: Little Sun

 

 

Little Sun Charge was a welcome addition in the sunroofs of Velotaxis all over Berlin: passengers could charge their phones with solar while they enjoyed the ride. Photo: Little Sun

Little Sun brought the sun to We Love Green festival in Paris with charging stations. Both Olafur and Felix took to the stage. Photos: Little Sun

Fun in the sun: our Sunlight Graffiti made a comeback at Sónar in Barcelona. Photo: Little Sun

July

South Africa was centre stage in July with our co-founder Frederik and his family making the move to Cape Town and Little Sun officially launching there thanks to the hard work of Susanne and Kamo. Photo: Little Sun South Africa

 

Meanwhile in Zambia, the Natural Light lamps we developed last year with Velux, began dramatically changing lives in the classroom, the delivery room, on farms and in orphanages. Photo: René Løkkegaard Jepsen

This summer, there was a very special Little Sun pop-up shop in sunny Corsica. Thanks to the wonderful André of Maison Beretti and Chloé of CNC, one of the most beautiful isles in the world was offering Little Suns for holiday-makers and locals alike, located at Porto-Vecchio. Photo: Little Sun Corsica

Little Sun Charges soaking up the sun at exchange red artists x art exhibition in Senegal. Photo: Tom Leather