NGO Light to Read is on a mission to spread light across South Africa. This year, they have supported multiple schools with solar, ensuring the learning journey doesn’t stop just because the power is out!
South Africa (02 December 2024) — NGO Light to Read has been working since 2016 to level the playing field of opportunities in rural South Africa, where poverty rates are high and infrastructure is limited. They do this by providing solar-powered lights to underserved communities and schools and by providing children with the essential resources they need to develop essential literary skills and succeed in their schooling!
Their journey began with a simple question: What if we managed to fundraise and get solar lights to students so they can learn safely after dark?’. The answer has been nothing short of inspiring, and as the need grows, so does the light.
These lights would be given to entire primary schools and awarded to the learners who had earned them at the discretion of the school’s leadership.
In total, they have distributed 12,000 lights to young learners!
A Heroic Duo
Chris and Diane Kelway are the forces behind the movement. This year, they celebrate another series of lives touched with 1,700 lights distributed across four schools in rural Limpopo.
“We braved the rainy weather in Limpopo to deliver much-needed solar lights to local schools to help young learners in their reading journey,” shares Diane. “Despite the challenging weather, the handover events were a success. Smiles and excitement filled the air…these lights are especially meaningful in areas with limited to no electricity [and] allow young learners to read, study and dream, even after the sun sets.”
Diane shares that the gratitude reflected by the community fuels them to continue these efforts.
These are efforts that require a lot of fundraising, but Chris and Diane have long proved themselves up to the challenge and even cycled the MTB Race to the Sun as a charity event to rally support for this year’s distributions!
The Impact
The schools supported this year are Ragatha School, Khekhutini School, Senopelwa School and Maloba School. Some are new schools, while others are older and require lighting replenishments.
Wonderfully, the Light to Read programme has a replenishment initiative that aims to return to schools to provide solar lights for more Grade 1 learners, ensuring equal access to nighttime learning.
Because many parents cannot afford electricity, power has become not only a loadshedding and infrastructure problem, but a cost concern.
As one of the teachers at Senoelwa School shares, the solar lights have helped enrollments increase.
“In the past, the parents felt it wasn’t worth the effort because the children were unable to continue learning after dark. Now with the solar light, they see the value and believe there is hope after all as their children can complete their homework after the sun sets.”
Dr Sebopetsa, the former Principal of Rathaga School and Global Headmaster of the Year (2021) as presented on Carte Blanche, explains:
“The solar lights have brought a major difference in the lives of our learners that received the lights. Learner’s scholastic performance improved significantly since schoolwork can be done with or without electricity. Family members’ lives changed because they also used them in family chores during dark periods because electricity cannot be guaranteed. I wish the project can continue and touch every corner of Mopani District of Limpopo because of the poor quality of life that covers most part of the mentioned area.”
Looking Forward
“As 2024 comes to an end, Light to Read reflects proudly on a year filled with impact and hope,” says Diane. “These simple yet life-changing tools are helping children, their families and the community unlock their potential.”
However, as the team prepare to start from zero once again, they are hopeful that 2025 will see them repeat the process and change more futures for the better.
Sources: GTG Interview
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