Saturday, November 24, 2012


Christmas 2012 Newsletter
It was a good year for Globallight Projects! Thomas made two trips to Zambia, in June and August. On the first trip, he traveled with with 3 members of SIFE from Lambton College, where he graduated this summer with a diploma in Alternative Energy Engineering Technology. A major purpose of the trip was to introduce these representatives, a teacher and two students, to the needs and opportunities for them to bring their skills and resources to southern Zambia. The local communities received them very well and we are pleased to say that new partnerships are being formed that will be of benefit to Lambton College and to the people of Zambia.
Some pics from 2012 trip - notice the panels & batteries
On both trips, the recent installations were improved. Thomas upgraded some equipment in Chona and extended the installation to another building in Kasaka. We are very pleased that both systems are working well. The folks in Kasaka have been especially creative, providing movie nights with the videos that we provided. A small admission is charged and the money is saved up to purchase a TV so that the life of the projector Globallight Projects provided will be extended. The videos are educational, such as National Geographic, so adults and children are learning together some of the wonders of our world while working together to improve their own community. That is what we hoped would happen: give folks a hand up and they will take it from there!
Since the summer, we have been working on plans for next year. There are a couple of possibilities, but these things always need some nurturing. We are also exploring more partnerships. There is just too much to be done to do it alone! Globallight Projects values working together with others of like mind and now that we have a track-record of successful installations, we bring proven skill and experience to potential partners. We look forward to being able to announce results of this ‘behind the scenes’ work.
One thing we do know, is that we intend to send Thomas to Zambia in 2013. We are committed to carrying out at least one project each year. We are very pleased and grateful that we have some funds already on hand for 2013, primarily though the very kind and generous support of the Social Justice Committee of Mary Immaculate Church in London. They have proved themselves to be great partners and supporters in each of our projects. But, we still need substantial funds to do all we’d like next year.
So many trusted and helped us before we had proven we could fulfil our dream of making a difference for somebody in the developing world. Thank you! Now that we know a little bit of what we are doing, there is so much to do! We will be so grateful if you would consider investing in Globallight Projects this year. Some folks make a donation at Christmas in lieu of exchanging gifts. We can send you a special GLP card to announce your gift. Or, a donation in the first part of 2013 will help another community in southern Zambia have electricity in their school. As we always have, your gift will be used 100% for the overseas project - the GLP team pays all overhead expenses here. Donations can be made to Royal View Church and will receive a receipt for income tax purposed. Please visit our donation page for more information.
Thank you for your continuing interest in Globallight Projects. We continue to believe that today’s children deserve better prospects than their grandparents had. But that will only happen if we do something!
Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.
~ Robert Louis Stevenson
If you have  a question or comment Contact us.
Your GlobalLight Projects Team
Thomas, Wayde, Peter, Marilyn & Doug


Monday, June 11, 2012



June 2012 Newsletter

We are pleased to announce that Thomas is on his way to Zambia today along with 3 members of SIFE, Lambton College. As we noted in our last newsletter, the purpose of the trip is to upgrade on of our existing installations and to guide the SIFE members in their fact-finding and assessment to determine future work in Zambia by the College. We are very pleased that the Globallight Projects work inspires others. There is so much to be done!

Thanks to all those who made this year’s trip possible. Nothing would happen without the support of our friends.This is our third trip in less than 2 years. We appreciate you!

One of our great supporters has been Mary Immaculate Church. For those in London, the church is holding a yard sale this coming Saturday, June 16. The church has committed funds from previous sales to our work and have promised to do so again. So, we need to help them make it as successful as possible. If you have items you would like to donate to the sale, you can drop them off at the church Friday afternoon or during the week at one of homes of the Globallight Projects team members. Then, go get some great bargains for yourself on Saturday morning. Let your friends know, too. Mary Immaculate Church is on Trafalgar Rd. just east of Clarke Rd. Send us an email if you would like more information or to let us know you are dropping something off.

We’ll give you a report on Thomas’ trip later in the summer. We would be happy to come and share in person, too. Thanks again for your interest and help. Have a great summer!

If you have  a question or comment Contact us.

Sorry; I have no space left for advice. Just do it.
~Donald E. Westlake

Your GlobalLight Projects Team
Thomas, Wayde, Peter, Marilyn & Doug

Thursday, May 10, 2012



May 2012 Newsletter

The GlobalLight Projects team celebrates with one of its own: Thomas Chona has completed a 3 year program of studies in Alternative Energy Engineering Technology at Lambton College. Prior to becoming a founding member of GlobalLight Projects, Thomas became a photo-voltaic technician. All of this hard work was done to bring the benefits and conveniences we all take for granted to people in the developing world. That's why GlobalLight Projects was formed and while Thomas has been a student, he led solar energy installations in two rural Zambian villages. The College has honoured Thomas for his pioneering work by providing a bursary to assist him with this year's project.

We are also pleased to announce that the Lambton chapter of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) is also taking up the challenge. SIFE is a program of a national charitable program, Advancing Canadian Entrepeneurship, which "encourages students to form teams on their campus and apply business concepts learned in the classroom to develop outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need." Inspired by GlobalLight Projects' track record of successfully installing working solar energy systems in under-developed areas, SIFE is exploring if they can form a partnership to bring a range of development capabilities to rural Zambia. To that end, 3 SIFE members, two students and an instructor will be traveling with Thomas in June. They have also graciously provided funding for Thomas' travel and some project expenses.

Thomas will graduate on June 9 and depart with the SIFE team on June 11. He will be away for 3 weeks. The purpose of this year's trip is to introduce the SIFE team to potential development partners and expose them to the needs and opportunities in rural Zambia. Thomas will also upgrade the 2 projects completed in Chona and Kasaka. Should sufficient funds be available, a school at a third site is ready and waiting for its solar power.

The GlobalLight Projects team has been working on these plans since last fall but we couldn't say anything until plans were finalized. We are excited that others want to work with us. There is so much to do! We could still use some help, though. A full school installation costs $30,000. The small installations we have done cost $10,000. We have enough funds to upgrade the existing installations, but $10,000 would really make a difference.

If you would like to help Thomas with this year's project, you can do so by following this link. As before, Royal View Church cares for the funds for us and will provide tax receipts (or CanadaHelps will if you make a credit card donation through them to Royal View). Funds need to be on hand by June 1 in order to be processed and available for Thomas' trip. To all those who have given in the past, this newsletter demonstrates your investment has brought much more than we had dared to hope.  A gift this year will make a difference to both young Canadian students and rural African children.
Thank you!

If you have  a question or comment Contact us.


All our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them.
 
– Walt Disney
          


Your GlobalLIght Projects Team
Thomas, Wayde, Peter, Marilyn & Doug



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