Year 9 RISE - 'Solar Buddy' 

Congratulations to the Year 9 RISE Project class, who have just changed the lives of 10 children living in extreme energy poverty in Cambodia. Throughout semester one, our students partnered with ‘Solar Buddy’; an organisation that exists to tackle the issues surrounding energy poverty by gifting sustainable solutions that illuminate the lives of children worldwide. The gift of light opens up a world of possibilities to children living in energy poverty and allows them to safely continue their studies and activities after dark without the use of dangerous, carcinogenic, and harmful fossil-fueled lanterns. 

As part of the program, our Year 9 RISE students built 10 solar-powered devices called StudentBuddies, complete with 3 light settings; a chargeable solar panel; and USB device charging for 2 devices. 

In areas of extreme energy poverty, communities are currently using either generators (that use fossil fuels) at their schools or health clinic or walking a long distance to a supermarket and paying to charge. It’s often the woman and girls who are expected to spend time away from family, friends and their education, as well as risking their safety to charge the families devices. The devices built by our students help to combat these issues and more, with the following additional benefits:   

• Health: Replace the use of fuel-based lighting and charging with a clean solar solution, and improve safety and wellbeing for children (particularly girls)   
• Education: Increase time in school and studying after dark instead of travelling long distances for lighting and charging.  
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• Economic: Reduce the money spent on expensive fuel-based lighting and charging and redirect it to basic needs like food, clothing, health and education. 
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• Environment: Contribute to the reduction of the carbon footprint of energy poverty which accounts for almost 10% of annual global emissions  

 We are so proud of our students and their efforts to make the world a brighter place. 

  Abbey Novak 

STEAM Learning Specialist