Alice Min Soo Chun
CO-FOUNDER & CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER
Alice Min Soo Chun is an Inventor, Social Entrepreneur, and CEO of Solight Design. Fueled by her passion for helping the underserved, Alice has invented products that address global crises. Her first invention, the SolarPuff, has impacted over 1 million people living in underserved regions worldwide.

Alice Min Soo Chun, the co-founder and CEO of Solight Design, gave thousands of collapsible, portable solar light lanterns to people in Ukraine.

Video Transcription

George: One woman's mission to literally bring the gift of light to Ukraine, as the Russians target the power grid of attacks forcing constant blackouts. Britt Clennett is in Ukraine with her story. Good morning, Britt.

Britt: Good morning, George. Well, I've been visiting hospitals and refugee centers with the inspiring Alice Min Soo Chun. She delivers her solar powered lanterns to Ukrainians who are dealing with power outages because of Russia's attacks on their energy supply.

It's been more than 10 dark months since Russia's invasion of Ukraine. More than 10 months of needless war, countless deaths, and widespread destruction.

This neighborhood like many in Kyiv deal with rolling blackouts, repeated attacks on the energy grid, enveloping this country deeper into darkness.

But now, Alice Min Soo Chun is on a mission to shine a light in the times of darkness. Alice traveling across central Ukraine to deliver her solar powered lamps to those in need.

Alice Min Soo Chun: I knew I had to come bring the lights to the children because I know the impact that it has. And these lights in particular, the colorful lights, they were used for PTSD in children after Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico.

Female: Hi. Nice to see you, welcome to Kyiv.

News Reporter: Alice’s solar light lanterns, championed by our Bob Iger and his wife Willow Bay, the Dean of the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at USC, after they saw her work on Apple TV Plus’ Gutsy, a show where Hillary and Chelsea Clinton showcase some of the world's bravest women.

Alice Min Soo Chun: This is the MegaPath, which is a bigger version of that, but it also has phone charging.

Chelsea Clinton: Now, you're just showing off.

Britt: Inspired by origami, the solar lanterns are lightweight, low cost, and easily collapsible which makes them so useful for disaster zones.

Alice Min Soo Chun: I have a present.

News Reporter: In Kyiv, Alice visiting this Children's Hospital, meeting kids caught up in the horrors of war.

Male: I see that you come in from USA and you come to Ukraine make some magic.

News Reporter: 14 year old Artem, wounded by shrapnel from a rocket.

Alice Min Soo Chun: Now, you have the power of the sun in your hands. And if you keep fighting with that light in your heart, and your imagination, there is nothing you can’t do. And it’s the greatest weapon against injustice.

News Reporter: Artem telling Alice he’s going to use the lamp to go camping with his sisters in a forest near his house.

Alice Min Soo Chun: These kids have been through so much. More than anyone would ever want for a child. These children are the most innocent. And they're in a war and they have done nothing wrong.

News Reporter: In a Kyiv suburb where blackouts have become part of everyday life, Alice visits 10-year-old Ruth and her sister Eva, both burgeoning musicians.

Female: Thank you very much.

Alice Min Soo Chun: Oh, you're welcome, sweetheart. What are you going to use the light for?

Female: Maybe when we don’t have electricity.

Alice Min Soo Chun: This one has yellow.

Female: --green.

Britt: Ruth, playing guitar for Alice while her mum serves up traditional Ukrainian borscht.

Alice Min Soo Chun What's important for me is to be able to come here and tell them that we haven't forgotten about them. That the world still cares about them. And that there's hope for peace and victory for Ukraine.

Britt: It's a very important holiday for Ukrainians here, Orthodox Christmas. And later, Alice plans to go to a dimly lit church to give kids her lights that bring so much joy here. And you know, the people we came across as Alice was delivering these solar lights, telling us that the sun is really one thing that Russia cannot take away from them. Words of defiance against the darkness of war. George--

George: What an inspiring story. Okay, Britt, thanks very much.

Hi, everyone, George Stephanopoulos here. Thanks for checking out the ABC News YouTube channel. If you'd like to get more videos, show highlights, and watch live event coverage, click on the right over here to subscribe to our channel. And don't forget to download the ABC News app for breaking news alerts. Thanks for watching.

About Solight Design

We are passionate about designing beautiful products that help make choosing to live a more sustainable, healthier lifestyle easier and accessible. Together we can change the way we light our world.

 

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