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How solar is giving Pacific kids a better education

For a decade, Its Time Foundation has been delivering solar power solutions for remote Pacific Island schools, transforming education outcomes and reducing carbon emissions.

Many island schools struggle with no electricity supply or rely on dirty diesel generators they can barely afford to run a couple of hours each day. The kids have little or no chance of a modern education. Over the past 10 years, Its Time Foundation, with the generous support of its partners, has been providing clean, free electricity for lighting and computers that transforms the education and life prospects for these kids.

The money saved on generator fuel creates decades of cash flow to buy computers and other desperately needed education resources. In some schools, the teachers happily make modest contributions for their new 24-hour power, further contributing to education resources. The foundation’s conservative calculations on projects to date suggests that, on average, every $1 spent by Its Time Foundation liberates at least $4 over the next 30 years for education – and that value increases as fuel prices rise. It’s a neat secondary benefit, as is the emissions reduced by replacing diesel power.

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There’s also an extra bonus for the environment, with these schools committing to spend 20 minutes each week picking up plastics – ocean drift plastics as well as their own. This results in thousands of kids and villagers clearing remote beaches of plastic.

After installing 20 of these solar projects, the foundation was set for significant growth, in early 2020. “We’re about to strap ourselves to a rocket!” said founder Rob Edwards. However, these hopes were snatched away by the COVID-19 pandemic.

So, Rob considered the long-standing relationships that the foundation has with business supporters, mostly in the renewable energy industry, and decided to formalise them through the Its Time Business Partners program. After launching in late February 2021, the program has grown quickly to include a substantial list of caring organisations working with Its Time to make a difference in the world by helping give kids a modern education.

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As well as having the opportunity to make a difference in the world, Its Time provides images, videos, stories and materials that partners can use in their corporate social responsibility strategies to engage and share their story with customers and staff.

Visit Its Time Foundation’s website to learn more about the fantastic work being done by the foundation.

Businesses are also welcome to join the partners for virtual drinks each month to hear progress on the latest installations, get an update from an industry commentator and receive a 20-minute skills session from leading business speakers.