Kaileen Casey, partner of Immediate Past District Governor Jeff Egan, adopted SolarBuddy as her partner project throughout 2021-22.
SolarBuddy is an Australian charity uniting a global community with a big dream to gift six million solar lights to children living in energy poverty by 2030, to help them study after dusk and improve their education outcomes.
The initiative is the brainchild of Queenslander Simon Doble, who invented a renewable energy-powered light that became a solution in refugee camps across the world. Simon realised the enormity of light deprivation – each night, 789 million people are plunged into complete darkness as they don’t have equal access to clean energy. So, he started raising global awareness and designing solar light solutions for the most at risk communities.
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SolarBuddy was launched In May 2016 and has aligned its programs with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. Their agenda intersects with many of the 17 goals, with a particular focus on health, education, energy, climate action and partnerships.
“The beauty of the program is that Rotary clubs can either donate money or partner with schools by adopting this project,” Kaileen said. “Rotary is making a difference not just in our local communities but worldwide.”
“It’s a feel-good social program that allows our kids here to understand how fortunate we are. It was such a joy to see the enthusiasm of the students and the smiles on their faces from being part of this hands-on project.”
Recently, then District Governor Jeff and Kaileen, together with Darrell Brown and Anne Farrell, of the Rotary Club of Maclean, NSW, spent a day distributing SolarBuddy kits to the Lawrence Public School, Hardwood Public School, Maclean Public School, Pacific Valley Christian School and Palmers Island Public School. All the students were eager to participate in the project to bring light to students living in energy poor nations. They each made a solar light and wrote a personal letter to their overseas buddy.
Kaileen said she was very pleased with the overwhelming response her program received and said how special it was working with the Maclean schools and getting feedback from them.
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“It’s a feel-good social program that allows our kids here to understand how fortunate we are,” Kaileen said. “It was such a joy to see the enthusiasm of the students and the smiles on their faces from being part of this hands-on project.
“We also had the Rotary Club of Goondiwindi partner with Kindness Club and spent time at the Goondiwindi Primary School. It was such a rewarding experience for everyone involved and I would like to thank President Kym Skinner.”
Comments from club members on the benefits the students received from the day included “excitement of assembling lights”, “greater understanding of energy poverty”, “gaining knowledge of electrical circuits” and “expressing their compassion through their letters”
“One Year 6 student commented that ‘it’s just like camping’,” Kaileen said.
District 9640 has donated 1000 solar lights that will have a positive impact on 5000 lives.