16th October 2019
Year 7 students will be taking part in an exciting technology-based initiative that will help them to learn about energy poverty, renewable energy and global citizenship.
For the first time, Girton is taking part in the SolarBuddy School Program which entails assembling portable, solar lights from a kit and donating the lights to children living in energy poverty throughout the South Pacific, South East Asia and Africa.
SolarBuddy is a registered Australian charity aiming to reduce reliance on dangerous and unhealthy energy sources such as kerosene, diesel, wood and candles.
The goal of the SolarBuddy School Program is to allow children living in poverty to study long after the sun goes down, improving their education outcomes and overall health and wellbeing. 
Studies from SolarBuddy show that children who receive the gift of a solar light spend less time collecting firewood for cooking and heating and instead spend more time attending class, preparing for exams and completing homework assignments. An Impact Assessment commissioned by SolarBuddy and KTF found that when children received a SolarBuddy light, there was a 78% increase in time spent on homework and an 80% reduction in average weekly expenditure on Kerosene.
YOU TOO CAN LIGHT UP A LIFE…
If parents or carers in the Girton community would like to donate a solar light for a Year 7 student to assemble, please complete the simple permission survey on ASTA and your $30 donation will be used to purchase a light for a Year 7 student to assemble.
Donate here: https://astra.girton.vic.edu.au/survey/intro/1039
Or phone the Business Office on 5441 3114 to make your donation by credit card over the phone.
Information about the registered Australian charity, SolarBuddy, can be found at: www.solarbuddy.org. For more information about Girton’s participation in the SolarBuddy School Program, contact: rodsmith@girton.vic.edu.au
