Rainbow students light up homes of 500 Costa Ricans

A total of 16 students and staff from Manitoulin Secondary School, Lasalle Secondary School and Lively District Secondary School will bring light to 100 homes in Costa Rica during the March Break.

“YMCA Service Clubs of Canada have partnered with the project to train 12 technicians to assist in the installation of solar LED lighting systems,” says Lively District Secondary School Vice-Principal Dave Wiwchar, who launched the “Light Up the World” project locally five years ago. “Every 20th house in the remote Indigenous Reserves of Costa Rica will have light by the end of this trip when the 245th panel is delivered.”

He adds: “The students who had the privilege of traveling to Costa Rica in 2007 had a tremendous learning experience. I look forward to sharing this journey with a new group of students this year.” The students are scheduled to leave the Sudbury Airport at 8:50 am on Tuesday, March 4th and return on March 16th.

The $150 lighting systems are being donated to families in Costa Rica with funds raised by Manitoulin Secondary School, Lasalle Secondary School, Lively District Secondary School, Northeastern Elementary School, parents of Children’s House Montessori Pre-School, staff at Alexander Public School and the Earthdancers.

“The number of systems installed has increased each year, from five in 2004, to 60 in 2007, to 100 in 2008,” says Wiwchar.  “We extend our thanks to all donors who have brought light to those living in the remote regions of Costa Rica.”

The public will be able to view a slide show of this year’s excursion at the Earth Day celebration on Saturday, April 19, 2008 at Market Square. More information about the project is available at http://www.lutw.org/project_costarica.htm.

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Media Contact:

Dave Wiwchar, Vice-Principal, Lively District Secondary School,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-692-3671, [email protected]