An ethical Christmas present – the Gift of Light in East Timor

Ethical presents for the festive season are gaining popularity, with many people rejecting buying more “stuff” for loved ones and opting instead for gifts that contribute to improving
the environment or changing people’s lives.

This Christmas, the not-for-profit Alternative Technology Association (ATA) is offering the ethical option of giving the “gift of light” in remote villages in East Timor.

People can donate money to the ATA’s program of installing solar-powered lighting and training solar technicians in East Timor, $50 buying a solar panel for a Timorese family, $300
a whole solar system and $500 a solar system and training of one village technician.

“Solar-powered lighting and mobile phone charging make a tangible difference to people’s lives in East Timor,” said Kate Greenwood, the ATA’s international projects manager.

“Thousands of people in East Timor live in homes without electricity and are forced to rely on candles or polluting kerosene lamps to light their homes at night,” Ms Greenwood said.

“Solar-powered lighting brings clean, renewable energy into homes – children can study at night, women and men can do work they would normally have to save for the next day, mobile phone charging increases connectivity and outdoor lights improve safety.”

The ATA, with in-country and Australian project partners, has been working in East Timor since 2003 and installed almost 2000 solar-powered lighting systems in homes, community centres, schools and clinics across the country.

In 2015-16, solar-powered lighting systems were installed in 607 houses in 12 villages across three districts, benefiting about 4250 people. Thirty Timorese technicians were trained to maintain the systems.

To Give the Gift of Light this festive season, go to https://shop.ata.org.au/gift-of-light

Each person who donates receives a card outlining what the donation achieves.
Sasha Shtargot