Global event management agency cievents has partnered with SolarBuddy, a charity involved with helping those living in energy poverty.
With approximately 18% of the world’s population having no access to electricity, the partners say the impact on education, health, the economy and the environment is a heavy one.
SolarBuddy’s mission is to help break this cycle and improve the educational opportunities of 6m children living in darkness by providing them with solar lights to study after dusk.
Now delegates at events and meetings organised by cievents are being encouraged to build SolarBuddy lights as an activity within a conference programme.
cievents’ goal is to build 10,000 SolarBuddy lights by 30 June 2019. Each kit comes with instructions and takes around 15-20 minutes to build using a basic screwdriver.
Already cievents has arranged for staff attending parent company Flight Centre Travel Group’s global gathering in Berlin in July 2018, to assemble SolarBuddy lights during one of the conference sessions. As a result 2,000 SolarBuddy lights have now been shipped to children in Papua New Guinea and South Africa.
Early stage evaluations indicate that children with a solar light are studying up to 38% longer.
cievents’ staff are also being incentivised to reach the 10,000 SolarBuddy target as six staff members from around the globe will be chosen to accompany SolarBuddy on a trip to Cambodia to deliver the lights and witness the incredible impact the contribution has first hand.
Lucy Francis UK general manager cievents, says: “The impact of CSR is undeniable, and we are finding the experience just as valuable within our workplace as well as seeing the benefits in creating more meaningful connections with our clients. The opportunity to partner with SolarBuddy was a no-brainer.”
