British School Manila continues support for One Million Lights
As the typhoon season sets in, British School Manila (BSM) is fortifying its relationship with One Million Lights (OML) Philippines to help provide clean, safe and affordable light for all Filipinos especially post-calamity.
“The beneficiaries of the program include individuals who live in areas that are not connected to the national power grid. It is also for those who cannot afford electricity or to those who just went through a natural calamity or any people who fit into a combination of the three,” Cassandra Deluria, OML head of external affairs, explained.
Creativity, Action and Service program
BSM, through its Creativity, Action and Service (CAS) program, partners with several charitable institutions to serve the needs of underprivileged Filipino communities. One Million Lights Philippines is one of these partner organizations.
“The objectives of our project started with displacing kerosene lamps with solar light. What we learned was that majority of the people who don’t have access to electricity or solar light use candles and kerosene for their lighting. Kerosene is very, very hazardous to the health as well as to the environment. Exposure to a kerosene lamp over a day causes as much damage to your body as smoking a pack of cigarettes. It’s also bad for your eyesight because the light is very dim. The fumes are very bad for your eyes. People who mostly use it live in a house with very flammable materials so it’s dangerous,” Deluria said.
Mark Lozano, founder of OML Philippines, was in California for a conference and encountered similar young people doing big things for other people. He stumbled upon One Million Lights and thought it would be a good project to bring to the Philippines. In 2010, he founded the organization.
Alyssa Kaganda, an alumnus of BSM, was instrumental in creating a relationship between the school and the charity through the school’s CAS program which aimed to make a difference in the lives of Filipinos.
Simon Woolridge, erstwhile BSM Service Learning coordinator, explained the importance of effecting the CAS program at BSM.
“It’s about trying to encourage our students to contribute to the widest sector of society here in the Philippines. We support our students’ endeavors so that they can do most for the project that they feel passionate about. There is a sense of satisfaction among the students for having been involved in a project that will have a long-term impact,” Woolridge said.
With One Million Lights Philippines as one of BSM’s community service partners, the school is keen to strengthen its ties with the group.
“We want to support them with what they do and we ask them how we can support them with their work,” Woolridge added.
OML benefits Yolanda survivors
During school year 2013-2014, BSM and One Million Lights Philippines worked together for the benefit of Typhoon Yolanda survivors in Malapascua, Cebu and extended the help for residents of South Cotabato and Tagaytay. An amount of P330,000 was raised by BSM that enabled them to distribute 1,104 solar lights for the use of Malapascua residents, P250,000 for South Cotabato that provided 500 lights and P240,000 for Tagaytay that enabled donation for 200 lights.
Shaping a student’s character
“BSM raised all the funds to get all of the lights and they helped with the logistics. We connected BSM to those who do need the assistance. The students and the faculty of the school are some of the friendliest and the brightest I’ve ever met. I love the atmosphere in the school. It’s very open-minded and we both have a goal we both want to get to and we’re both going to work towards it. It’s very encouraging,” Deluria noted.
BSM’s assistance on finance, manpower, advocacy and logistics created an impact on OML Philippines’ mission.
“BSM is responsible for over 20% of all One Million Lights Philippines across the country, mobilizing not only resources, but also passionate students that help us promote and develop our advocacy of lighting up lives,” Mark Lozano, founder of OML Philippines, remarked.
BSM hopes that projects with an organization like OML Philippines will help shape a student’s character.
“We hope that by doing community service, it’s not something that’ll be seen as an extracurricular activity. It should be part of a BSM student’s lifestyle to help others, to look outside of one’s own life and social circle and do what you can to make a difference,” Woolridge concluded with optimism.