UPDATED - Dec. 3, 2:09 p.m.
Lasalle Secondary School students have been knocking on doors for the past few weeks, raising funds for the Light Up Costa Rica Project.
This year’s fundraising drive will culminate with the school’s sixth annual "Awake-a-Thon" taking place Dec. 3.
Students in Rainbow Schools have brought light to more than 2,000 people living in the remote regions of Costa Rica in the last six years. Lasalle Secondary has been with the project for six years, and Lively District Secondary School (LDSS) for three.
Students from LDSS raised more than $2,300 with their Third Hunger Strike for Light overnight on Nov. 25-26. Students from Lo-Ellen Park Secondary School and Manitoulin Secondary School will join the students from Lasalle and LDSS on their trip to Costa Rica, where they will install lighting systems during March break in 2010.
Students will take solar panels, rechargeable batteries and efficient LED lamps out into the rainforest as far as eight kilometres deep to thatch roofed homes, where children are gaining access to education but still need light to study in the evening.
“Families benefit by a reduction in their living expenses of 30 per cent and become an example of carbon neutral living, without any reliance on fossil fuels,” says project founder David Wiwchar, in a press release.
“The candles or kerosene lamps that were costing them $20 a month are replaced by $200 renewable solar lighting thanks to Light Up The World's efforts to secure equipment at cost from the manufacturer,” he adds. “Students see sustainable development in action as beneficiaries pass the gift of light on to other families by contributing what they had been spending on kerosene and batteries to community funds.”
Over the last several years, Wiwchar says the project has been able to bring 15-17 students from the Rainbow school board to Costa Rica to install the systems. The students pay their own way, either by saving money from jobs or seeking sponsorship. None of the money raised for the Light Up Costa Rica project is used to bring students to South America.
The students bring much of the equipment in their luggage as gifts to people in Costa Rica, allowing the project to save thousands of dollars in shipping and customs fees, explained Wiwchar.
Wiwchar chose Costa Rica for his project because, after spending several years working and living there, he had the contacts with non-governmental agencies to allow the project to work. The small size of the country also allows students to go from coastal regions to mountainous and volcanic regions and see a wide-range of geography.
"Costa Rica is a very peaceful country," he said, explaining that the country is also a very safe country for students to travel to.
"We've had no issues."
Wiwchar was recognized with a YMCA Peace Medallion last week for involving youth in this work. Community members inspired by the efforts of local youth are welcome to visit www.lutw.org to learn more about the project and make a donation to this year's delivery of panels.
