Help shine light onto dark nights in remote East Timorese communities this Christmas. East Timor is one of the poorest countries in the region. Only 20% of the population have access to mains electricity and communities in remote areas are not expected to have mains electricity for at least the next 15 years. These communities are often small, dispersed and financially poor.

Since 2003 Alternative Technology Association (ATA) volunteers have been travelling throughout East Timor installing small, inexpensive solar power systems that provide lighting for thousands of households as well as community centres, orphanages, schools and hospitals in remote rural villages.

Installing a single bulb can allow children to study thereby improving their educational potential. Renewable technologies can operate off the grid, suitable for remote locations while reducing the demand for diesel fuel and other scarce (and expensive) resources.

However we need financial support from people like you to roll out solar lighting to other remote communities in East Timor.

Our partners at bankmecu, Australia’s first customer owned bank, are proud supporters of our Christmas campaign. bankmecu have seed-funded this initiative with a $7,500 investment because they believe it’s important to improve the living conditions and opportunities for East Timorese people.

ATA banks with bankmecu because of their responsible practices and contribution to communities via their Community Investment Program where up to 4% of after tax profits are put back into community initiatives.The ATA is a pleased to be a customer and therefore an owner of bankmecu.

Donate here before Friday, 14th December for timely delivery of the card.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 11th, 2012 at 7:09 am and is filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.