A LOCAL school\u2019s ambitious project to help children in developing countries has been made possible through a generous donation from a residential developer.<\/p>\n
Armstrong Creek School recently partnered with SolarBuddy\u2019s education program to help make solar-powered lights for countries where artificial light is not always readily accessible.<\/p>\n
Teacher Amber McCook said the decision to partner with the charity was made by the students themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe 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,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe presented to the students lots of different charity options and then they selected SolarBuddy.\u201d<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Ms McCook said the positivity towards the project made the fundraising target seem a certainty, only for COVID-19 to then disrupt proceedings.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnfortunately, literally the day we launched it we got notified we would be going back to remote learning,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the community\u2019s motivation to fundraise was fantastic and still is, but there are so many competing priorities right now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fundraising subsequently stagnated around the $1,000 mark.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, Warralily \u2013 Newland Developers heard of the program through Times News Group and donated $500 to the project.<\/p>\n
Warralily community development officer Nina Bendon said the group was pleased to be giving their support to such an important program.<\/p>\n
\u201cA program like this inspires innovation within our community and connects children to our global community, which is invaluable,\u201d Ms Bendon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThose key messages of sustainability, environment, and community are what Warralily is all about and has been about from the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms McCook said she was delighted at the contribution.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re very thankful that Warralily came on board with the donation. It\u2019s very exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n
The day after Warralily\u2019s contribution an anonymous donation was submitted and took the school over their $1,625 target.<\/p>\n
The school will now be able to construct the solar lights next term.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A LOCAL school\u2019s 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\u2019s 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 […]<\/p>\n