Panasonic Group donates 1,200 solar lanterns to off-grid areas in four Asian countries

Contributing to expanding opportunities in education, health, and income generation through collaboration with local Panasonic Group companies

Osaka, Japan, June 4, 2026 – Panasonic Holdings Corporation (Panasonic Group) has donated a total of 1,200 solar lanterns to off-grid areas across four Asian countries between December 2025 and April 2026, in collaboration with four Panasonic Group companies: Panasonic Asia Pacific Cambodia, Panasonic Solutions Thailand, Panasonic Manufacturing Philippines, and Panasonic Vietnam.

The initiative is part of LIGHT UP THE FUTURE, Panasonic Group’s program to deliver light to people living without access to electricity.

The donation is not intended merely to provide lighting. It aims to address the broader challenges faced by people living in off-grid areas. By ensuring access to safe and reliable light, the initiative seeks to improve quality of life from three key perspectives:

• Education: enabling children to study after dark
• Health: reducing health risks associated with kerosene lamps
• Income generation: expanding opportunities for nighttime activities

The initiative is supported by the proactive participation of Panasonic Group employees worldwide.

This year, more than 60,000 employees took part through a mechanism in which responding to a social contribution survey resulted in donations. Additional contributions were made using the company’s cafeteria-style welfare system. By working closely with Panasonic Group companies in each country, the program ensures support tailored to local needs and strengthens post-donation follow-up systems.

These efforts represent Panasonic Group’s commitment to addressing social issues globally and creating sustainable value.

In some rural areas of Cambodia, electrification remains limited, and many households continue to rely on kerosene lamps. This situation not only limits opportunities for children to study at night but also poses health and safety risks due to smoke and fire hazards.

Through the initiative, solar lanterns were distributed primarily to low-income households and families with school-age children, providing safe and stable lighting to improve both learning and living environments.

Partners:

• Japan Evangelical Lutheran Association (JELA) https://www.jela.or.jp/en/
• Lutheran Hope Cambodia Organization https://lhco.org.kh/

Related press release:

Panasonic Cambodia supports communities through solar lantern distribution program
https://www.panasonic.com/kh/corporate/news/articles/panasonic-cambodia-supports-communities-through-solar-lantern-distribution-program.html

In mountainous areas of northern Thailand, geographical constraints have impeded the development of electricity infrastructure. As a result, insufficient lighting in facilities such as school dormitories remains a challenge. Many children live far from home and reside in dormitories without electricity, limiting their ability to study and carry out daily activities after sunset.

The initiative improves safety during nighttime travel and provides opportunities for after-school learning, contributing to a better educational environment.

Partners:

• Thailand Ministry of Education, Office of the Basic Education Commission
• Niyomphanich Lampang

Related video:

Panasonic Thailand donates solar lanterns to children as part of Panasonic Cares
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Ap7mcvqa6/?mibextid=wwXIfr

In coastal areas and some indigenous communities in the Philippines, many regions still lack access to the national power grid, resulting in insufficient lighting at night and significant challenges for daily life and livelihoods. Indigenous communities in mountainous areas such as Zambales Province face constraints in education, daily living, and income-generating activities due to the absence of electricity and reliance on conventional, non-renewable energy sources.

In coastal fishing communities, opportunities for nighttime activity directly affect income levels.

The donated solar lanterns are expected to:

• Expand nighttime fishing opportunities, thereby improving income
• Enable children to study at home
• Improve overall living conditions

Partners:

• King Fisher Organization
• Rotary Club of Cebu Inc.
• ACTION INC.

Related video:

2025 “Light Up the Future” program, Lake Mapanuepe, Zambales
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hkopldGw2Q

In parts of central Vietnam, high poverty rates and frequent natural disasters such as typhoons contribute to unstable living conditions. Access to electricity is often unreliable, affecting daily life and children’s learning environments.

The provision of solar lanterns helps reduce the economic burden associated with securing electricity and also serves as emergency lighting during disasters, strengthening both daily life and community resilience.

Partners:

• World Vision Japan https://www.worldvision.jp/index.html (Japanese)
• World Vision International Vietnam https://wvi.org.vn/

Related press release:

https://www.panasonic.com/vn/corporate/news/articles/20260312-solar-lantern-donation-program-in-quang-tri.html (Vietnamese)

Since 2013, Panasonic Group has been involved in activities to bring “light” to areas that do not have electricity, where that lack of light and electricity is making it impossible to escape poverty. Since 2021, the activities have been developed under the name “LIGHT UP THE FUTURE,” which is a project to illuminate the future of off-grid areas. To date, Panasonic Group has cooperated with various partners such as NGOs, NPOs, and international organizations and has delivered approximately 130,000 solar lanterns to people in 36 countries and regions.

Panasonic Group has also engaged in activities to make more people aware of the situation in off-grid areas. Since 2018, Panasonic Group has collaborated with local governments, universities, and events and have developed a variety of initiatives that employees and the general public can participate in. The donation was made possible through a group-wide donation campaign and employee contributions via the cafeteria welfare program.

Going forward, Panasonic Group will continue to work with a wide range of partners to help create a sustainable society that is free from poverty by delivering the light from solar lanterns to off-grid areas, to create opportunities for education, health, and income enhancement.