Chinchilla scouts students build solar lights for PNG children with help from Origin Energy

Chinchilla scouts have helped bring light into the lives of impoverished overseas children through a powerful and educational project. Find out how they did it here:

Chinchilla scouts have helped light the way for children living in poverty overseas, teaming up with Origin Energy to build solar powered lights for families living without electricity.

The Scouts and Origin volunteers assembled the lights as part of their Special Interests Area Environmental Badge, which will be gifted to children living in extreme energy poverty in Papua New Guinea.

Chinchilla scouts have helped light the way for children living in poverty overseas, teaming up with Origin Energy to build solar powered lights. Photo/Origin Energy

Learning about the creation and use of energy was educational and fun for the young participants, with 7-year-old Aaron saying he was excited to be help children less fortunate than himself.

“I’m sad that they don’t have electricity to read and learn like we do,” he said.

“I’m proud to be making a solar light for another student so they know that we care.”

Thomas, 13, said he “didn’t realise how many people don’t have lights that we take for granted”.

“It felt really good to help others to be able to study and improve their lives,” he said.

Chinchilla scouts have helped light the way for children living in poverty overseas, teaming up with Origin Energy to build solar powered lights. Photo/Origin Energy

The lights are easy for children to put together, operate and carry, and charge like a mini version of the solar panels many of the scouts already have on their own rooftops.

This batch will add to more than 8000 already distributed, and will help transform the lives of more than 40,000 people in PNG, including thousands of children who currently rely on candles and unsustainable fuel sources like kerosene to study at night.

Chinchilla scouts have helped light the way for children living in poverty overseas, teaming up with Origin Energy to build solar powered lights. Photo/Origin Energy

The product also help children study up to 78 per cent longer than they could without the SolarBuddy lights, supporting a pathway to a brighter future.

Only 6.3 per cent of the rural population in Papua New Guinea where the lights will be sent have access to grid electricity.

The Scouts wrote letters of support to accompany the lights to their new homes and watched a video of pupils who have received SolarBuddy lights, helping understand how they’re helping other children.

Chinchilla scouts have helped light the way for children living in poverty overseas, teaming up with Origin Energy to build solar powered lights. Photo/Origin Energy

“It’s so important that children have the opportunity to learn about important issues and how they can help others in a hands on, fun way,” Scouts Group Leader Adam Fitzgerald said.

“It was wonderful to have Origin engage with our organisation and help progress the requirements the scouts need to gain their Special Interests Area Environmental Badge.

“The activity gave the Scouts an opportunity to work together, learn new skills and use critical thinking and application for a worthwhile endeavour.”