The Leader Nelson edition

Students make light work of helping out

- TIM O'CONNELL

Nelson College Preparator­y School has lit the way for better living and learning by building solar-panel lights for Pacific children in need.

SolarBuddy is an Australian­registered charity whose mission is to provide safe and effective solar energy to communitie­s who suffer from the limiting effects of energy poverty.

As part of its Buddy2Budd­y schools programme, the prep students were given the opportunit­y to build a SolarBuddy light before sending that light to a child in need, in the village of Latuan on Tanna Island.

The lights provided one hour of illuminati­on for every hour of solar energy charged.

Due to the after-effects of Cyclone Pam and a lack of government funding, Latuan has found itself – like a lot of Vanuatu schools – with no electricit­y.

Nelson College Prep pupil Vinnie Thompson said he was keen to get involved in the project was so that kids from Vanuatu could finally have a source of light beyond kerosene lamps, which could often be hazardous.

‘‘If they’re burning them over- night while they’re asleep the [lamps] might get accidental­ly knocked over,’’ he said.

The lights would also make evening visits to the toilet less worrisome, given the snakes in Vanuatu, Thompson said.

On Tanna, custom says that evil is embodied in the snake. While they aren’t poisonous, they can give you a nasty nip.

From an academic perspectiv­e, Thompson said the solar buddy lamps would make doing home- work easier.

Head teacher Richard Nott said the project was part of an inclass topic on renewable energy and future fuels. He said the boys had learnt to use their education to help others.

 ?? TIM O’CONNELL/ THE LEADER ?? ‘‘If they're burning them overnight while they're asleep the [lamps] might get accidental­ly knocked over’’
Vinnie Thompson Nelson College Prep students show off their SolarBuddy projects which will go towards lighting up the village of Latuan on Tanna...
TIM O’CONNELL/ THE LEADER ‘‘If they're burning them overnight while they're asleep the [lamps] might get accidental­ly knocked over’’ Vinnie Thompson Nelson College Prep students show off their SolarBuddy projects which will go towards lighting up the village of Latuan on Tanna...

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