The JuniorBuddy Challenge
Sustainability at Sydney
Can we build 100 solar lights in two days?
That's the challenge the University's sustainability team is setting at Welcome Fest this August. In partnership with SolarBuddy, we're assembling JuniorBuddy lights across two days and sending every one to a child in an off-grid community who currently studies by kerosene flame.
No experience needed, all materials on site.
What is JuniorBuddy?
JuniorBuddy is a solar-powered LED light designed by SolarBuddy for children living without reliable electricity. The common alternative, kerosene lamps, produce toxic fumes and pose serious fire risk. JuniorBuddy replaces them with clean, portable solar light that a child can carry wherever they need to study.
A single light increases study time after dark by up to 78%, generating up to 7,300 additional study hours over three years. Each unit reduces approximately 1.28 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent over its 10-year lifespan. On average, one light reaches five people – the child who uses it, their siblings and their household. The components are largely recycled and recyclable.
The challenge in numbers
At 50 lights: 250 people reached, with up to 365,000 additional study hours over three years.
At 70 lights: 350 people reached, with up to 511,000 additional study hours.
At 100 lights: 500 people reached, with up to 730,000 additional study hours.
We'll track the total live across both days.
Come and participate, meet peers and learn more about climate equity, climate mitigation and resilience.