WORDS AND PHOTOS SUPPLIED
Light Up a Mind is a campaign on a mission to bring light to learners when load-shedding puts their studying efforts in darkness.
The Square Shopping Centre in Sunninghill, Sandton partnered with community radio station Mix 93.8 and the Yabasha initiative to launch the Light Up a Mind campaign to help learners during load-shedding. Load-shedding has been a recurring challenge for many, but its impact is felt more by learners preparing for their exams, especially matriculants studying for their finals.
Be the light
The campaign’s mission is clear: “Be the light that helps learners study through load-shedding in exam time this year,” said Tracy Sutherland of The Square. “As thousands of students face the potential setbacks of learning in the dark, this initiative takes a stand to provide thousands of rechargeable lightbulbs, ensuring uninterrupted study sessions during power outages,” she said.
Says Mix 93.8 programme manager Sanele Motlana: “Nobody can learn in the dark. And in less fortunate neighbourhoods the impact of load-shedding can have lifelong consequences. The Light Up a Mind campaign partnership aims to light up the path to success for every student affected by these devastating power outages.”
A helping hand
Individuals and organisations are invited to donate rechargeable lightbulbs, available for purchase at most supermarkets and hardware or lifestyle stores and to drop them off at either Mix 93.8’s studios in Midrand or at The Square Shopping Centre in Sunninghill’s management offices. The centre will donate R 50,000 in lightbulbs to supplement public donations.
“Looking after the next generation, and nurturing education during a critical, future-determining period helps us help the youth to hedge their bets for a brighter future,” says Sutherland. Mix 93.8 will be broadcasting from The Square Shopping Centre on Saturday October 14 to collect additional lightbulbs and hand over donations to Yabasha.
