Stories of #GoodChange
Illuminating the Future: Our Partnership with SolarBuddy
Energy poverty is a critical issue that many are unaware of, yet it significantly impacts the health, education and economic stability of communities worldwide. Not only does energy poverty affect those who live it, but it also has broader environmental implications when unsafe cooking and household lighting fuels contribute to carbon emissions.
In the Philippines, the Department of Education reports over 1,635 primary and secondary schools are yet to be connected to power grids, limiting at least 1,000,000 students’ access to technology and engaging learning materials as a result.
Students on the remote island of Tingloy, in the Philippines, are one such cohort that have been left behind in electrification and education. With intermittent community access to electricity, students rely on kerosene lamps to study at night.
Thanks to Good Neighbours Australia’s newest partner, SolarBuddy, 3,000 students from Tingloy will have access to their own personal solar lights, to help them with their homework from mid-2025 onwards.
About SolarBuddy
SolarBuddy is an Australian-founded impact organisation dedicated primarily on addressing extreme energy poverty by providing solar lights to communities across the world. Their mission is to illuminate the future of children in underprivileged communities across the globe, creating a world where no one is left behind.
Our Partnership
SolarBuddy has donated 6,000 personal solar lights to be distributed among our Good Neighbours’ partner communities in the Philippines, Vietnam and Laos, in 2025. This collaborative project ‘Sharing the Light, Shining Together’ aims to enhance children’s learning conditions, support the daily activities of their families, and reduce the negative impact of electricity shortages. Additionally, it seeks to raise awareness about renewable energy, environmental protection, and promote sustainable development within these communities.
The project is more than just a thoughtful gift; it is a sustainable solution aimed at improving the lives of children and the communities they live in. By implementing this project, we hope to instil hope, encourage development, and illuminate the dreams of children in disadvantaged areas in the Philippines, Vietnam and Laos.
One of the communities in the Philippines where the SolarBuddy lights will be distributed (Photo courtesy of Good Neighbors Philippines)
How a SolarBuddy Light is Assembled
Watch the video below on how SolarBuddy lights are assembled, before they are shipped and distributed to our partner communities:
(Video courtesy of SolarBuddy)
How You Can Help Share the Light
By donating to Support a Community today, you can help with shipping and distribution costs for such items like the SolarBuddy devices. Every donation, no matter the size, contributes to making a significant impact. Consider making a one-off tax-deductible donation and support a community in need.
Together, with organisations like SolarBuddy and compassionate individuals like you, we can create a brighter, more equitable future for all.
Thank you!
Ready to Make a Difference?
Your support is more than a donation: it’s a lifeline. Join us today and help us reach communities in need.
Support a community today. Sign up at https://gnau.kindful.com/ or learn more about the program at https://www.goodneighbours.com.au/support-a-community/
Lend a hand. That’s what good neighbours are for.
