Justin Tomlinson MP Meets With Local Charity Lights For Learning

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson met with Swindon-based charity 'Lights for Learning' to get an update on its work to bring lighting to areas of the world where artificial lighting is impossible or hard to obtain.

Lights for Learning is a charity which installs solar-powered lighting to schools in areas where artificial lighting is not readily available, and by doing so they help places of education meet the challenges they face. The charity works all across the world; including Zambia, Zimbabwe and the Philippines.

The lighting uses low voltage LEDs that run off a 12v car battery, charged during the day via a small solar panel.  The charity has also developed small portable wind turbines to act as a power source, as well as a larger portable unit that will power laptops, suitable for NGOs working in remote areas.

Lights for Learning work with the Probation Service to offer training opportunities to local ex-offenders, giving them engineering and electrical skills.  The ex-offenders help the charity to hand build the units locally, meaning that their work makes a difference in the UK as well as abroad.

Justin has worked closely with Lights for Learning for a number of years, helping them raise their profile and build contacts.

In 2013, following a conversation with the Taiwanese Ambassador, Justin managed to secure 200 hand held solar powered lighting units so children in several African countries would have light to return home after school.

The year before, Justin introduced the charity to the then Minister for International Development, Alan Duncan MP, managing to secure time out of the Minister’s busy schedule so that he too could see first-hand the fantastic lighting systems that the charity produces and the difference they are making.

Justin Tomlinson MP said: “I was great to meet with Lights for Learning. They are doing fantastic work to bring education to poorer and more remote areas of the world. This will not only help the individuals, but also help improve their respective countries.”