Community rallies behind students enlightenment

A LOCAL school’s ambitious project to help children in developing countries has been made possible through a generous donation from a residential developer.

Armstrong Creek School recently partnered with SolarBuddy’s education program to help make solar-powered lights for countries where artificial light is not always readily accessible.

Teacher Amber McCook said the decision to partner with the charity was made by the students themselves.

“The project was driven by student voice, meaning students are able to learn about different things but also given the agency to make decisions that impact the greater good,” she said.

“We presented to the students lots of different charity options and then they selected SolarBuddy.”

Armstrong Creek School students will work together to construct the lights, with their likely destination presently being Papua New Guinea. The students will also send individual letters to the recipients of the lights.

With the equipment to build 50 of the solar lights costing $1,625, the school set up a GoFundMe campaign for the community to take part in.

Ms McCook said the positivity towards the project made the fundraising target seem a certainty, only for COVID-19 to then disrupt proceedings.

“Unfortunately, literally the day we launched it we got notified we would be going back to remote learning,” she said.

“I think the community’s motivation to fundraise was fantastic and still is, but there are so many competing priorities right now.”

Fundraising subsequently stagnated around the $1,000 mark.

Fortunately, Warralily – Newland Developers heard of the program through Times News Group and donated $500 to the project.

Warralily community development officer Nina Bendon said the group was pleased to be giving their support to such an important program.

“A program like this inspires innovation within our community and connects children to our global community, which is invaluable,” Ms Bendon said.

“Those key messages of sustainability, environment, and community are what Warralily is all about and has been about from the beginning.”

Ms McCook said she was delighted at the contribution.

“We’re very thankful that Warralily came on board with the donation. It’s very exciting.”

The day after Warralily’s contribution an anonymous donation was submitted and took the school over their $1,625 target.

The school will now be able to construct the solar lights next term.