StudentBuddy
Working in teams of 2-3, students assemble a StudentBuddy which will be donated to communities in developing countries.
This teacher-led Social STEM program is aligned to the Sustainability cross-curriculum priority and mapped to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).
Providing more than light
The StudentBuddy program combines practical team-building skills and real-world impact. It provides an exciting and challenging session for students and promotes general capabilities, including critical and creative thinking, intercultural understanding and ethical understanding.
StudentBuddy is a more complex solar system, designed to provide more than just light. Providing children living in energy poverty with a light that can be ceiling hung, as a torch and has USB charging capabilities.
Social STEM
Topics covered
- Energy Poverty
- Renewable Energy Sources
- Sustainability
- Global Citizenship
- Innovative Design
What's included:
- Curriculum-aligned educational resources for educators to facilitate - lesson overview, activity sheets and StudentBuddy instructions
- International shipment and distribution of lights and letters to a country in extreme energy poverty
- Delivery of unassembled StudentBuddy kits
- Collection of assembled StudentBuddy kits
- Monthly update by SolarBuddy on their global impact
- Quality control of solar lights
The real impact your students will have
StudentBuddy solar devices are designed to provide impact for real people living in energy poverty. In areas of extreme energy poverty, communities are currently using either generators (that use fossil fuels) at their schools or health clinic or walking a long distance to a supermarket and paying to charge.
It’s often the woman and girls who are expected to spend time away from family, friends and importantly education and to risk their safety to charge the families devices.
The StudentBuddy solar devices come with 3 light settings, a chargeable solar panel, USB device charging for 2 devices and was made with sustainability in mind.
All parts are replaceable, and aluminium components are 100% recyclable.
These devices will:
Health: Replace the use of fuel-based lighting and charging with a clean solar solution, and improve safety and wellbeing for children (particularly girls)
Education: Increase time in school and studying after dark instead of travelling long distances for lighting and charging.
Economic: Reduce the money spent on expensive fuel-based lighting and charging and redirect it to basic needs like food, clothing, health and education.
Environment: Contribute to the reduction of the carbon footprint of energy poverty which accounts for almost 10% of annual global emissions (Our World in Data)
Frequently Asked Questions
Most frequent questions and answers
HOW DO WE PLACE OUR ORDER OF LIGHTS?
Simply complete this enquiry form and we will organise the order for you
CAN A SOLARBUDDY REPRESENTATIVE FACILITATE THE SESSION?
Absolutely! There is an additional cost for this, and it depends on whether it is virtual or in person.
Simply email hello@solarbuddy.org to find out how we can add even more impact to your session.
WHERE ARE OUR STUDENTBUDDY DEVICES?
You will receive an email confirming that they have been dispatched once they are on their way to you. Your lights will be with you in time for the date that you requested on your order form.
Please note that orders and activity dates are not confirmed without full payment or a PO number.
OUR STUDENTBUDDY SESSION DATE NEEDS TO BE POSTPONED – IS THAT OK?
We do not offer refunds for change of mind or circumstance however at the discretion of SolarBuddy you may be able to adjust or change the activity date of your order if the kits have not been dispatched.
E.g. if you place an order for 16 StudentBuddy kits and wish to split this into two activities you can if we have not dispatched them. Please note we can only adjust your order in increments of 8 and your new date is subject to availability of stock.
WHEN DO WE RECEIVE OUR LEARNING RESOURCES?
Your learning resources will be emailed to you once the order has been confirmed so that you can access them before the lights arrive and prepare for your session.
SOME LIGHTS ARE INCOMPLETE – WHAT DO WE DO?
Do not worry, we ask you to please ensure all lights, letters, screw drivers and spare parts are returned to us in the boxes provided. All kits are carefully quality control checked before they are distributed to communities living in energy poverty.
DO WE HAVE TO RUN THIS PROGRAM WITHIN A CERTAIN TIME?
You will have 4 weeks to complete the StudentBuddy assembly from the date it arrives at your chosen location.
CAN WE KEEP OUR LIGHTS?
All StudentBuddy kits ordered must be returned to SolarBuddy on collection- including any unused or incomplete kits. Please refer to the instructions inside the box as to how to re pack your kits ready for collection.
By assembling your light, you are helping a child living in energy poverty. The more lights we can send to children, the greater impact we have.
HOW DO WE RETURN THE STUDENTBUDDY DEVICES BACK TO YOU?
When you have assembled your lights simply request a SolarBuddy collection here and we will arrange a courier to collect them from your location.
WHERE ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS?
In our ongoing support of sustainability, the instruction manual and pack down guide is available in the digital resource kit emailed to the educator or event organiser.
They are also found on the inside of the individual kit boxes – simply scan the QR code!
WHAT ARE THE CONTENTS IN THE BOX?
Each box consists of:
- 8 boxes of StudentBuddy kits (1 StudentBuddy kit box)
WHAT DO WE DO WITH THE ENVELOPES, AND PACKAGING?
It is very important that they are not disposed or destroyed because they will be re-used for packing at the end of the build session. Please read through the pack down guide to find their allocated space!
Thank you for helping us take care of our planet.
WHEN DO WE RETURN OUR LIGHTS?
You must request your collection of StudentBuddy lights 4 weeks from their arrival date. You cannot keep any completed or incomplete StudentBuddy kits for personal use or to assemble them at a later date passed your collection date.
Fees apply for late returns of the StudentBuddy kits (please refer to your order form for further information)
HELP! OUR KITS WON'T FIT BACK INTO THE BOX!
Do not worry, there is a handy pack down guide included in the digital resources on how to repack your kits ready for collection.