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As part of my university degree I am having a placement year, 6 months of which I am spending in the Amazon Rainforest at a research centre called Crees carrying out research into regenerating secondary rainforest. 

I aim to raise £100 for each week I spend in the rainforest to support a new green project set up by Friends of Conakry Refugee School. Follow my experiences through my blog - bethanywatkinsblog.wordpress.com and donate where you can.

The Library of Light project will send 200 solar lights to a refugee school in Guinea, West African so every child will be able to borrow a solar light for the evening to do their homework at home and return it the following day. This will increase their academic achievements and save their family money that can be spent on school fees. Since the arrival of Ebola families at the school have struggled to pay fees so children are at risk of dropping out of school.

Now you may be thinking how does this affect the rainforest... well without a solar light families use kerosene lamps, an unsafe, unhealthy and extremely polluting fuel which increases the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. If solar lights are used instead of continuing to use kerosene, there will be less carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere. The changes in the global climate caused by the rise in carbon dioxide levels is now effecting the unique weather patterns of the Amazon Basin putting this enormous carbon sink at threat. This along with reducing deforestation will reduce the amount of carbon dioxide taken in by trees and accelerates global warming.
Solar lights cost so little and yet could make such a big difference to the lives of the children like those in Conakry, to the level of carbon dioxide emitted and ultimately to the global climate and the future of the planet.

When I leave I will be taking a solar light with me, this light will allow me to work late into the evening, mean I won't have to  eat by candle light and will reduce the amount of candles burnt. The solar light will be able to be left out during the day and then used in the evenings, bringing benefits to me as well as other members at the research centre. It will also remind me every day of how important an issue light poverty is and how important this project is.

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