Page 8 - link magazine

8 swindonlink.com • February 2012
Lights for Learning help on two fronts in Africa

When a multi-agency Lights for Learning team travel to The Gambia in April to install solar powered electric lighting units into schools,
hospitals and shelters, their cargo will be packaged using recycled bras, which will then be distributed amongst the local women.
Being able to afford underwear the team with a lot of fundraising.”
can be a choice between support or So popular have the bra collec-
children going hungry says Lights tions been that Jo found another
for Learning sales manager Jo Heav- way to raise much needed funds
en. “When I visited South Africa I by linking with BCR Global Textiles
learned from women that wearing who recycle bras. Jo explained: “As
a bra was a mark of status, but in we have collected more bras than
The Gambia women have to decide we need to pad out the solar panels,
between a bag of rice or wearing BCR is an excellent fund raising
something comfortable. The solar channel. They supply bra bins
lighting panels can be taken out as and also self-addressed bin liners
passenger luggage in suitcases and which FedEx collect free of charge
we pad them out with bras which when full. For every kilo collected
the women of the villages really Lights for Learning receive £1 to
appreciate - it’s recycling taken to help towards the cost of the solar
another practical level.” installations.”
Beauty queens back bra collections for solar power charity. Miss Thamesdown 1978
Since 2004 Cricklade based char- Bins have already been installed
ity Lights for Learning has been Donna Nicholson (nee Gordon), left, and her daughter the current Miss Wiltshire at Intel, Swindon College, Office
Jo Logan with Lights Jo Heaven and Amy Jones of Office Angels
installing solar lighting in schools Photo: Richard Wintle. www.calyxpix.com Angels and a number of local busi-
and medical centres where there nesses, schools, playgroups and
is no electricity supply in several centres.” cational materials, solar powered churches. If you would like a bra bin
African countries. The systems are The trip to the Gambia is set to calculators, spectacles, sports and for your organisation, contact: jo-
robust, easy to install and a low cost be very busy, with teachers, IT con- first aid equipment. All the costs of [email protected]
solution which enable learning and sultants, handymen and midwives the trip and the projects are borne by www.lightsforlearning.org
medical care to take place after the going to work in the remote schools
sun has set. and nurseries in the Bangsang, Lights go up in Lesotho link school
Jo added: “Where lights are in- Daru, Ndkiri Kunda area, at Bang- Solar powered lights from Lights for Learning will be installed at a school
stalled allowing children to study sang Hospital and Shelter Gambia. in Lesotho linked to Swindon at the end of January.
after dark there have been massive “As well as installing solar lights,
increases in school exam passes, we’ll be renovating classrooms,
teacher retention and adult literacy teaching rugby and running first aid
rates, and also a drop in night-time training with First Aid 4 Gambia,”
birth mortality rates at medical said Jo. “We’ll also be taking edu-

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Manor Garden Centre

Cheney Manor, Swindon Roger Mugridge of Lights for Learning with members of Peatmoor Primary
eco-club who are looking forward to seeing pictures from Lesotho
01793 526691 Photo: Richard Wintle www.calyxpix.com
Open 7 days a week Mike and Annette Derry, mem- four solar panels charging two car
bers of Gateway Church in Westlea batteries to feed 24 LED lights. It
SALE departed at the beginning of Janu- will also fund a portable briefcase
New 2012 NOW ON ary for a two month stay in Lesotho. sized kit to light an office.
Both schools have developed an
Part of their luggage was solar
Collection panels, LED lights and control boxes educational relationship and deep
Huge range made by inventor Roger Mugridge friendship with Dihlabeng School in
Over 250 fabrics who was pictured in the December South Africa over the last ten years.
Cane, Rattan, Laminated Link with children from Red Oaks Margaret Grant, head at Dihlabeng,
Primary School.
suggested the Swindon schools
wood combinations They and children from Peatmoor link with Paramente School where
Free local delivery Primary raised £1,000 to light a hall Swindon teacher Jo West and her
www.conservatorycentres.co.uk and a combined classroom library at husband Pete live and work, with
Paramente School in Lesotho using support from Gateway Church.

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