Page 26 - link magazine

Swindon Wide
Swindon Wide
26
26
the bigger picture

Schools international network provides electricity for African children
Peatmoor Primary School and Red Oaks Primary together have raised £1,000 for a solar powered lighting system supplied by Cricklade-based
charity Lights for Learning to be installed in Paramente School, Lesotho, in a project that demonstrates how international links between schools
and communities can transform lives and opportunities.
Both Swindon schools have children have learnt so much and
been connected to Dihlabeng have come up with lots of ideas.”
School in South Africa for the Part-time teacher at Peatmoor
last ten years, nurturing an Melanie Brough recently visited
educational relationship that Paramente and brought back
has complemented the global video footage of her trip. “It’s
curriculum on offer at Red Oaks fantastic how Peatmoor, Red
and Peatmoor. Through this rela- Oaks, Dihlabeng and Gateway
tionship, the head of Dihlabeng, Church are all working together,”
Margaret Grant, suggested they she said.
might work together to help Having seen the video, pupil
Paramente School, across the Rowan Maddock said, “It was
border in Lesotho, one of whose shocking to see how different it
teachers, Jo West, originates is from here. I think we take our
from Swindon. She and her school for granted.”
husband Pete are supported by Lights for Learning inventor
the Gateway Church in Westlea. Roger Mugridge is impressed by
The money raised will bring the schools’ effort. “It’s great how
light to the school hall and a the youngsters are so committed
combined classroom library us- to giving children in Africa the
ing four solar panels charging chance to learn when the sun
two car batteries to feed 24 LED goes down.”
lights. It will also fund a portable In September 2010 the char-
briefcase sized kit which Lights The Red Oaks charity club with a Lights for Learning portable solar power lighting kit ity’s team of volunteers em-
for Learning founder Roger with inventor Roger Mugridge and teachers Maggie Hartridge and Melanie Brough barked on a project to install
Mugridge designed so that doc- lights across 344 schools in Zim-
tors and midwives can undertake ment on the dangerous open flame The solar panels, wiring and babwe, attracting the attention of
emergency deliveries at night. kerosene lamps that families often lights all fit into a suitcase and will Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
This system is a huge improve- rely on to light their homes after dark. be delivered to Lesotho in Febru- Having just returned from a sec-
ary by Mike Derry, a member of ond three week trip to Zimbabwe
the Gateway Church congregation. where L4L volunteers fitted lights
Whilst there, Mike will be able to into another eight isolated rural
train local people how to install the schools, two clinics and an adults’
kit and wire it up to locally sourced skills training centre, Roger said:
batteries. “We again had a fantastic reception
Pupil Dominic Stroud said: “The from the government there. They
lighting system is so amazing and supplied a truck, mini-bus and a 4 x
simple. The bulbs are so tiny and 4 to help us move the volunteers and
bright but they don’t get hot at all. our equipment between locations.”
The solar lights will do a lot for the The charity has recently had
children in Lesotho because they’ll enquiries from schools and govern-
be able to learn in the evening.” ment departments in India, Tanza-
Red Oaks raised money through nia and the Democratic Republic
a blue, green and white non-uniform of the Congo.
Taking day earlier this year when children Meanwhile Roger is developing
donned the colours of Lesotho. This new solar powered products, and is
bookings event supplemented funds raised in most excited about bringing comput-
now! 2010 through a quiz and toy sale. ing to the poorest people, using a
Red Oaks charity club coordina-
portable battery system fitted with
tor Maggie Hartridge said: “Working an inverter to produce a stable
towards helping children in another 240v electricity supply. “This would
country over a period of 18 months keep 6 laptop computers going for
has been a great experience. The a day,” he said.
Children and their teacher at Paramente School in front of the building
which will soon have solar panels attached to it
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21-48 December 11.indd 26 18/11/2011 10:28