Give the gift of light & help educate children

Stories....with a twist! 

This month I've got a story with a difference, and I'm so very excited to tell it to you! 

As you are an insiderwith the SolarBuddy team I wanted to loop you into some fantastic news, and it's all about sustainable innovation. 

For as long as I can remember I have loved creating things. My earliest memory of this is a thumb and forefinger glove protector that I came up with after hitting my finger nailing a nail in as a kid.I was about 10 and building a den in the farm hedges around where I grew up in England. I've seen many of versions of this since then, still think mine was better - but then I'm biased! 

Now I create with Purpose. My life's work is dedicated to ending energy poverty for children everywhere. I intend to do this sustainably and with a view to helping to make this a planet where future generations will thrive. 

SolarBuddy is Carbon Neutral! 

It's with great pride that I can let you know, that whilst ensuring the sustainable product roadmap I always envisaged is well underway, we have also been working on other ways to promote sustainability. 

As you can see the photograph with some of the team, SolarBuddy is now certified carbon neutral with Climate Active.The Climate Active brand represents Australia’s collective effort to measure, reduce, and offset carbon emissions to lessen our negative impact on the environment. Let me tell you, receiving certification is no small feat! We've worked hard to reduce our footprint as much as possible and are proud to have supported a community carbon credit cookstove initiative in Chad to offset what we could not reduce. 

And that's not all.... 

Energy Globe for Sustainability - National Winners 

SolarBuddy has been awarded National Winner with Energy Globe Sustainability Awards. Energy Globe is the most renowned environmental prize worldwide. This year nearly 3,000 amazing environmental projects were submitted, and 180 countries participated. Wow - this makes me so energised to keep going! 

Everyday, you are changing lives! 

During 2021, your gifts of light have been handed to thousands of children in 9 different countries - Cambodia, Dominican Republic, Kenya, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Vanuatu, Zimbabwe. As more borders are freed up and more schools open their doors, we will be there to give another child a hand-up,and so willyou. 

"A smile from ear to ear can be seen on my face because with thislight." 

"I will be able to do my homework without problems" 

"We areso happy. The gift of light for life, light for the future." 

“Solar is so much better.” 

"The light help me to be safer during the night also supporting me on learning at night while am at home." 

So what's next? 

I will never stop working to remove the obstacles I find in the way of bringing a brighter future to all children. In the new year, in addition to upgrading our current solar light to an even more sustainable model, SolarBuddy will begin gifting amore complex and powerful solar system that incorporates USB charging capabilities. My no-waste philosophy has lead the way for some more highly innovative packaging. We call this new product StudentBuddy and I can't wait to share more details with you soon - watch this space!

The children never leave my mind. It is my mission to transform the lives of millions because Ibelieve everyone is born equal and it is onlycircumstance that separates us. 

I believe in the extraordinary, so I will continue to test limits to break away from the norm - but always sustainably! 

Come with me and we'll make sustainable practices and carbon neutrality the norm. 

Best wishes, 

Simon Doble 

Founder and Global CEO, SolarBuddy. 

We understand that in your daily life, you have many things to do. Thank you for making reading and writing, for children living in energy poverty, a priority! You are such an important force in improving literacy.

I'm a storyteller. I believe stories have the power to change the world and the power of the written word is transformational. With the ability to read and write, beautiful stories can be shared, creating a bridge to understanding and connection. Stories are the germination of inspiration, often coming from afar.

With inspiration comes action, so I'm thrilled that SolarBuddy is close to completing our first book, Captain Solar. I also can't wait to share with you shortly, seventeen new children's books. You're the first to hear about these! They are all designed to inspire children to actively invest themselves in actions for good.

I believe literacy is as fundamental, as it is momentous. Do you?

Literacy is life-changing

Literacy enables people to fully engage with everyday life, to communicate and understand what is going on in the world around us. At SolarBuddy we believe literacy is freedom, a human right, a pathway to a thriving future.

You've asked what we are doing for children living in energy poverty in Australia. We are thrilled to let you know we've partnered with the Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation (ALNF) to open opportunities for Australian children. “We are excited to be working with SolarBuddy to light up children’s worlds and brighten their futures. With SolarBuddies, one more barrier to learning and participation is removed.” Kim Kelly- ALNF Co-Founder and Executive Director. 

This partnership has been kickstarted with a donation of 550 SolarBuddy lights to ALNF’s literacy packs. These will go to children living in Alice Springs, Australia where there's 300 sunny days every year! 

There's approximately 500,000 Australian's living in energy poverty today. I believe this is simply unacceptable and I want to end energy poverty in Australia in the next 3 years. We're on our way but need you with me to get the job done. Will you join me?

 

Literacy equals opportunity

"Since we received these lights we have started evening study sessions for students in year 5-10. I have seen a big improvement in the students ability to read and write. On average our students speak 3+ languages, so having more time to focus on English at school gives them better opportunities for the future."

Sonya Teacher in Malekula, Vanuatu

Lights in motion!

This month we have 5,000 lights being distributed in Cambodia, Madagascar and Papua New Guinea. Covid-19 has made shipping slower than we'd like, so it will take a month or so for the next 6,200 lights to make their way to Cambodia, PNG, Timor-Leste and Vanuatu.

Will you consider donating the gift of light to another child? I know the children will never forget your kindness.

I am so hopeful for the future. Increasing literacy rates is a crucial and that's why I've dedicated my life to illuminating the futures of all children. Thank you for making this possible! 

Simon Doble

Storyteller, Founder and CEO, SolarBuddy.

 

PS I thought you might like to hear directly from Grace, a teacher who sees first hand, the impact of light on literacy. Please see short video attached.

 

 

Links:

• Light-up the pathway to literacy