About Let There Be Light
Our commitment to community ownership
At Let There Be Light, we believe in the power of local ownership to drive change and create sustainable futures for communities across South Africa.
Mission: Empower and Engage
Our mission is to empower communities to reclaim their economic rights and gain the tools needed for sustainable growth.
Vision: Ownership and Equity
We envision a society where all individuals have the opportunity to own and benefit from the resources they help generate.
Our Workflow & Approach
Community Mobilization
We begin by engaging with community members to establish their needs and goals for economic participation.
Training & Development
We provide tailored training programmes to empower families to take ownership and manage their businesses effectively.
Implementation
Together, we work to implement solutions that ensure sustainability and growth for community businesses and agricultural initiatives.
Meet the Team
The people behind Let There Be Light
Asanda Makanda
Founder — Community Economic Development
Asanda Makanda is the founder and strategic visionary behind LTBL, bringing extensive community engagement experience dating back to 2016. Her early work focused on developing distributed energy solutions for communities without access to electricity. Over time, this evolved to include community governance, sovereignty, and the establishment of appropriate local structures that support long-term resilience. She is currently advancing the concept of a commonism economy: a human-centred, asset-backed economic model designed to support communities in moving from poverty toward self-sufficiency.
Masopa Moeshoeshoe
Community Advisory
Masopa provides valuable insight into community needs, local dynamics, and informal norms. He acts as an important bridge between the community and LTBL's vision, helping to communicate key messages while also bringing forward critical feedback from the ground. His dedication to development, industrialisation, and the interconnection of African nations has been instrumental in building trust and strengthening community progress.
Lorraine Jansen
Community Mentorship
Since 2020, Lorraine has worked closely with community members to build meaningful relationships and strengthen household-based enterprises. Her work focuses on connecting experienced household business owners with emerging entrepreneurs to encourage mentorship, collaboration, and sustainable growth. Her commitment to community empowerment plays a vital role in reducing isolation among small businesses and supporting the transfer of practical skills.
Ready to build something owned by your community?
Whether it's land, retail, or partnership — there's a place for you in the Commonism Economy.