Alex families receive energy-saving lights
JOBURG - Families in Alexandra were delighted to receive sustainable solar powered lights courtesy of Rays of Hope and Schneider Electric.
The two partners launched the exciting and sustainable project to schoolchildren and their families, all recipients of the pilot project.
Trish Lockwood, operations manager at Rays of Hope, explained the reason behind launching the project: to ensure that fewer families use candles and energy-consuming light bulbs.
“We decided to launch this exciting project with Schneider because we wanted to curb the occurrence of fires in the local community, which have a devastating impact on families,” she said.
She also explained that 28 families from the township of Alexandra would receive the lights, as part of the pilot project, and that each light would come with a rechargeable energy-efficient battery, which would be recharged by the organisation.
Schneider Electric was also present at the launch which took place on 7 August at the Ikhaya Lomusa Resource Centre in Marlboro Gardens.
Leslie Monk, specifications engineer at the company, explained how they became involved in the pilot project.
“We came across Rays of Hope at the Rosebank Union Church and wanted to assist the organisation in any way we could,” he said.
“We saw what they were doing for others and decided to bring a solution to the current problem faced by so many families in the area,” he said.
Monk added that the sustainable light project was part of a main project the company is currently running, called Bip Bop.
“The aim of the project is to make energy available to people around the world, especially those who don’t have access to it,” he said.
A representative of Schneider was also on hand to explain the purpose of the light and demonstrate the correct way to use it.
Lockwood expressed gratitude to Schneider for their assistance and encouraged more involvement with Rays of Hope, saying that the company was always looking to uplift and empower community members in any small way.
Rays of Hope is a non-profit organisation, which works with members from the township of Alexandra on various projects, including AfricaWorks and Granny support groups. For more information or to get involved with Rays of Hope, visit: https://raysofhope.co.za/
