SAIT Light Up the World Team
In light of the growing escalation of measures related to COVID-19, the team is currently reviewing the impact on the project and will be in touch shortly with updates.
Meet the team!
When I first heard about the Peru trip, I was very excited because I have always wanted to visit South America. Once I learned more about the work we would be doing, the community, and the impact it will have for the villagers, I knew this was a project I needed to be a part of. I am looking forward to learning about Peruvian culture from the road less travelled and to help make a difference in the education and status of the people by providing electricity for the village.
- Tye Balon
Enrolling in the Electrical Engineering Technology program at SAIT has added tremendous value to my life. I was inspired by reading about engineers and scientists working on developing plant-based batteries. I wanted to get an education and get involved in the clean energy revolution. Taking part in the Light Up The World project is a phenomenal way for me to give back to the community, further expand my knowledge, and experience a unique culture to broaden my perspective of the global community.
- Trevor McGovern
The reason why I’m studying journalism is because I am passionate about being able to tell meaningful stories. I believe what Light Up The World is doing is incredible, and I am honoured to volunteer with like-minded individuals. Light Up The World and my peers are doing great things for communities as well as for the environment. I am thrilled to learn more about sustainable energy, and to be able give back in the way I know how, which means using my journalistic skills to bring awareness to this organization and partnership.
- Dre Kwong
Who are we?
We are SAIT students who wish to affect change, and this partnership with Light Up The World (LUTW) will give us the opportunity to create something positive and improve the lives of people in need. A reliable source of energy, especially clean energy, will improve the living conditions of residents of the remote communities we travel to. We seek to empower these communities by educating them on sustainable energy.
During a two-week trip to Peru, we will travel to rural areas where the conventional electrical grid is very far away and inaccessible. We are all extremely excited about the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of members of these communities, and our group will also be educating them in sustainable energy systems and concepts.
LUTW is a Canadian non-profit that has been working in communities that do not have access to electricity since 2004.
This is the fourth partnership between SAIT students and LUTW. With every project we complete, the teams continue to learn and develop more efficient and effective ways to achieve the goals of our program.
Why are we doing this?
Our goal is to raise awareness concerning to the importance of access to clean energy and to show the application possibilities of solar/photovoltaic (PV) technology.
Energy facilitates education. In many parts of the world, children work and do chores before and after school while there is daylight. This means their studying is usually done in darkness. For hundreds of millions of students, living without electricity means studying is completed using the dim light of a kerosene wick lamp. Quality home lighting immediately improves conditions for education.
Living without electric light is expensive. A lack of access to electricity means some families spend as much as one third of their monthly income on inefficient lighting solutions such as kerosene, candles, and single use batteries. With renewable energy systems, which cost much less than burning kerosene on a daily basis, families will have more disposable income which they can then spend on other priorities, which can include school fees and healthcare costs.
Clean energy is an investment in health. The toxic by-products released by burning fuels for light present a myriad of health and environmental issues. Fuel sources, like kerosene, are a primary source of greenhouse gas emissions. Years of inhaling noxious gases can lead to severe respiratory illness, and an open flame in the home increases the threat of fire and burns. Clean energy greatly reduces health risks.
How will the money be used?
We are looking to raise $4,000 to subsidize the costs associated with purchasing and installing the PV systems. Given the highly remote nature of the community’s location, the cost of transporting the equipment and our volunteers who will be performing the installation are substantial. Because most of the volunteers are also students, funds are very limited.
Thank you for helping us see this project through! We are incredibly grateful for this opportunity and for your charitable donation.
