By Jess Walker | Partnerships Manager
Welcome to this edition of Stories From The Field. In this issue, we take you directly to the ground - from New Zealand to Fiji, Areyonga Australia to Kenya and Togo too. Join us for stories of impact and partnership from around the world. Across every story, one thing remains constant: meaningful impact happens when communities, partners and people come together with a shared commitment to creating a brighter future.
Things to look forward to in this edition
Happy reading!
Lighting the Way Across the Pacific - Airbus and SolarBuddy continue their partnership
On 9 September 2026, SolarBuddy and Airbus came together once again with a shared commitment to empowering young people through STEM education while tackling energy poverty.
The day brought together 158 students, from years 3-8, from five rural schools in New Zealand’s South Island, collectively known as the Pelorus Cluster including Linkwater School, Canvastown School, Rai Valley School, Waitaria Bay School and Havelock School. The learners partook in a hands-on STEM learning experience exploring renewable energy, energy poverty and aviation.
Together, students assembled:
500 JuniorBuddy solar lights
48 StudentBuddy solar devices
But the impact of the day will travel far beyond the classroom.
The student-built solar devices are now on their way to our partner organisation, Lau Education Charitable Trust (LECT), who will distribute them to schools without access to reliable electricity on Naviti in the Yasawa Islands in Fiji. Students also wrote messages of encouragement to their peers, creating a meaningful connection between young people across the Pacific.
This is the power of a long-term partnership: combining education, innovation and action to create opportunities that extend far beyond a single day.
We’re incredibly grateful to Airbus and the Rise and Resilience Fund, for three years of continued collaboration and commitment to creating brighter futures across the Pacific.
Distribution Updates
Across July and August, 1073 SolarBuddy solar solutions began their journey to communities around the world!
In September - solar solutions
Bringing Solar Light to Togo for the First Time
SolarBuddy has partnered with People to People International to bring safe, reliable solar energy to communities in Togo, marking our first distribution of solar solutions in the country.
As we continue to expand our reach into new communities and countries, we’re thrilled to have delivered 700 JuniorBuddy solar lights to students in Togo alongside 48 Bright Futures Bundles designed to provide households with practical, portable access to light and energy. Impacting a total of 4700 lives.
For students, the JuniorBuddy lights provide a safe and reliable source of light for studying after sunset, helping create more time for learning without relying on kerosene lamps or open fires. By replacing these harmful sources of light, the devices can also help reduce exposure to indoor air pollution and the respiratory health risks associated with breathing in smoke and fumes.
The impact extends beyond the classroom. Reliable solar lighting can save families valuable time by reducing the need to collect firewood for lighting, while the Bright Futures Bundles also provide phone-charging capabilities - reducing the need to travel long distances to access charging.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to our SolarBuddy LIVE Team Building Partners in Germany and France, Xpert Marketing and Teams Connect, and our Corporate Partner, DLL. Through the events they hosted, corporate teams came together to build solar devices that have since been distributed to communities in Togo, helping bring safe, reliable light to those living without access to electricity.
This first distribution in Togo represents an exciting step in SolarBuddy’s continued efforts to reach communities experiencing energy poverty around the world. We’re proud to be expanding our reach and bringing brighter, safer and more sustainable energy solutions to new communities.
I’m endlessly inspired by the incredible support from our community. Together, we’re not just lighting the way for children around the world - we’re empowering them to dream, learn, and build brighter futures.
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