Year Six

Lights for Learning

The Year Sixes were very lucky to have Mioh and James, from Origin Energy, come into our classes during Exhibition preparation for a mini project. We learned about Renewable Energy, specifically Solar Energy and Energy Poverty. Some facts we learned were:

• 789 million people live in extreme energy poverty.

• Four million deaths are caused by indoor air pollution annually.

• Families are spending up to 40% of their income on fuel for lighting.

• Kerosene lanterns produce 190 million tones of CO2 annually.

In partnership with SolarBuddy, a Brisbane-based charity, Origin taught us about doing something positive for people in need and taking action. We created Solar Lamps for children in Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu as only 12.4% of these people are connected to power (only 3.7% of rural). This will increase the amount of time children in PNG and Vanuatu can study by 78%. Even the yellow buckets that the solar lamps came in will be used as water filters and general containers for people in PNG and Vanuatu, so there is no wasted packaging.

We would like to thank Mioh and James for coming in, teaching us about solar energy, energy poverty, being great Global Citizens and helping us to take action for a great cause.

The Year Six Team

Melissa Paola, Rhys McIntosh, Josh D'Souza, Zarah Draper and Annie Ioannou