Every year, on Human Rights Day (December 10) the President of Soroptimist International invites all Soroptimists to join her in supporting one Appeal to improve the lives of women and girls. In December 2013, President Ann Garvie launched the See Solar, Cook Solar Appeal, which will support projects around the world that educate women about renewable energy and enable opportunities for them by providing solar lanterns and cookers. One of the first two projects to benefit from the Appeal will be Lurgan Lights, a partnership between girls’ education charity Camfed and SI Lurgan (UK).
In this week’s SoroptiVoice blog, three Lurgan Soroptimists, Patricia Kerr,
President; Joanne Harris, Immediate Past President and Jillian Patchett, Co-ordinator with Camfed
& Lurgan Lights Committee Chair write about how the project started and how it helps girls complete their studies in Zambia.
In 2010, we
were among a group of Soroptimists from Lurgan who attended the SIGBI
Federation conference in Brighton. As we
were incoming Club Presidents spanning the next three years we were on the lookout for inspirational projects. Whilst we were inspired by many of the
projects, it was the speech by Camfed’s Founder and President Ann Cotton, that
captivated us all. Discussions ensued
and, as Jillian is so passionate about reading, our goal was set and “Lurgan
Lights” was founded. Jillian contacted
Camfed to see how it could become a reality.
Members of SI Lurgan
We pitched a
passionate and enthusiastic idea to the members of SI Lurgan who agreed to take
on a three year solar light project in partnership with Camfed. Everyone in the Club has and is truly helping
us achieve what has now become our combined Club dream. It is wonderful to see an idea evolve.
"Living without lights at night is
dangerous and limiting," says Dorothy Kasanda, Deputy Executive
Director and Head of Education for Camfed Zambia. "It is particularly a
problem for school children. If they
can’t study after dark, it hinders their academic progress."
For girls
living in rural Zambia, it is not uncommon to have to walk in excess of 8 miles
to and from school every day. Having
access to light will provide many benefits to the girls of rural Zambia, not
least allowing them to study and gain an education. Camfed will assess girls in
greatest need, ensuring our solar lights are delivered into the hands of
students studying for examinations.
Studies show
that if a girl goes to school:
- Her income will increase by up to 25%;
- She
is three times less likely to be HIV positive; - Her children will be 40% more likely to live
beyond the age of 5; - She will marry three years later and have
fewer children; - She will
support the next generation of children to go to school.
Lurgan
Lights helps in 3 ways:
- Linking with schools to provide solar
lights for girls to use whilst studying; - Local community advisors identify
girls in greatest need, typically those preparing for exams; this will increase
awareness of the importance of girls accessing education; and - The lights are sourced from Solar Aid,
a supplier in Zambia so it will contribute to the local economy, as well as
avoiding import taxes.
Initially,
we were quoted £25 per light, but as Camfed have been able to bulk purchase the
unit cost has reduced to circa £17.50. Every
penny goes to the purchase of the lights; Camfed made the decision to
absorb any overhead costs, so none is lost in administration. The solar
panels that come with the lanterns also have the ability to charge mobile
phones, radio, computers etc. In addition, as these lights are portable they
can make life safer for girls if they have to go outside in the dark.
Our first
£1750 was raised during Jillian’s year enabling us to purchase 100 Solar
Lights, which were supplied in 2013 and during Joanne’s year we aimed for 130
lights. We have raised £2882 which will buy 164 lights, maybe more if the unit
cost reduces again due to bulk buying.
Girls from Chilubi Secondary School with lanterns donated by SI Lurgan (photos by Camfed). Chilubi
Secondary School is in Chilubi District in the Northern Province of Zambia. This district is over 350km from Kasama, the
provincial capital, has few facilities and frequently lacks power
Our goal is
to change as many lives as possible, each light changes a life, impacting on
family and community life. With your help
we can achieve our aim to buy 671 lights for girls across rural Zambia; this
figure equates to the number of schools in Zambia.
Fundraising for Lurgan Lights
In our first
year we launched Lurgan Lights with a Murder Mystery fundraising evening
introducing the project into Soroptimist circles and the local community. Jillian linked with our local schools in the
form of a writing competition, asking students to consider what life would be
like without electricity. We visited the
winning school to show the light and talk about Soroptimists and Solar Lights
at assembly.
One of our
members Pamela Mawhinney, a teacher, worked with her own form class as they
held an assembly explaining the project to the school and raising funds through
a selling healthy smoothies. We visited this school to show the light and talk
about Soroptimists. Jillian baked for
over a week and held a very successful coffee and cake day. She also made Soroptimist aprons.
In our
second year Joanne wished to strengthen our SI Mother/Daughter links (when a new club is established, they are supported by an existing club, with the sponsoring club becoming known as the new club’s "mother") and they
wished to help us with our project, members of Belfast, Downpatrick and Lisburn
joined with Lurgan to hold a Murder Mystery evening. This time the players were
Sister Soroptimists from our Grandmother/Mother/Daughter Clubs.
We also
continued including the theme of “Educate,
Enable and Empower” throughout our fundraising we have achieved this by linking
with the local newspaper, holding a joke competition for schools which included
an accompanying Teachers’ Resource on the Solar Light Project (this was
developed from Pamela’s lesson plan).
We developed
a Brownie Badge “1” Challenge where Soroptimist members visited Brownie Units
and spoke about Soroptimist International, our Solar Light Project and Fair
Trade. This enabled Brownies to complete
their World Issues Badge and also empower them to help other children by one
Brownie Unit buying one light.The Teachers
Resource is available if any clubs wish to access this for schools.
We had a
cake stall at a local Hair and Beauty salon. Aprons are still available to buy
for £15, please order through our website. We Ended our second year with a
Fashion Show atwhich we told 200 people about Soroptimists and the Lurgan Light
project.
We were also
invited to speak to the Humanist Association of Ireland on Human
Trafficking. Whilst there we also
covered Soroptimists and Lurgan Lights and received an unexpected donation for
lights. We also continue to collect donations from our local community through
other events we take part in.
Soroptimist
International Lurgan is grateful that
our project was nominated by SIGBI Federation as beneficiary of the Soroptimist
International President’s Appeal December 10. We are delighted that Soroptimist
International President Ann Garvie choose “See Solar, Cook Solar” as her Appeal
focus; as a Club we are very passionate about the use of Solar light
to empower and enable girls to study. With your help and support, Soroptimists
worldwide will enable thousands of girls to access education, changing their
lives and prospects for the future.
We are so
grateful for this opportunity and we hope that you all think our project is
worthwhile. Even if your Club just raises enough to buy one light, you will make a critical
difference to the academic achievement, wellbeing and, ultimately the lives of
girls in Zambia, their families and the wider community.
To support the Lurgan Lights project as part of the "See Solar, Cook Solar" Appeal, Soroptimists should send donations via their Federation office,
marking it clearly as for "See Solar, Cook Solar". Members
of the public can send donations directly to the Soroptimist International HQ
office in Cambridge, UK.
Top image: schoolgirl studying by solar lantern in Zambia (photo: Camfed) and See Solar Cook Solar appeal logo
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