A group of 10th graders from the HCM City-based Vietnam Australia International School works on solar lamps. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

HCM CITY — A group of 10th graders from the HCM City-based Vietnam Australia International School is working on a project to donate solar lamps to needy students in the Ea-Rớt village in the Tây Nguyên (Central Highland) province of Đắk Lắk.

Under the “Thắp Sáng Tri Thức” (Light up Your Knowledge) project, the students have made their own lamps called Aser40 with the help from their mentor, Nguyễn Lý Thủy, a teacher of math.

They have also received support from the Green Innovation and Development Centre Vietnam (GreenID), a non-governmental organisation that promotes the co-benefits of sustainable energy, good practices about renewable energy, and energy efficiency.

Green ID helps them to call for donations and connect with Ea Rớt Village authorities.

So far, the group has received VNĐ59 million (US$2,531) in donations and 100 solar panels for the programme.

They aim to have VNĐ75 million ($3,217) and 175 panels to give lamps to more than 170 students at the Ea-Rớt Primary School.

Ea-Rớt, a poor village in Krông Bông District, has a population of 946, with most of them Mông.

Children in the village who must work to support their families after school study at night. However, the village has not yet connected with the national power grid, so they do not have enough lights for study.

Thủy said: “I want the students to feel happy about the gifts. Happiness is the biggest gift.”

More details for the project can be found at https://www.facebook.com/aser40. — VNS