A LOCAL student is aiming to raise £9000 to volunteer in Peru and raise awareness of sustainable energy and climate change in rural communities.
Eve Redhead from Carwardine Close, Woodham, Newton Aycliffe has, since leaving Greenfield Community College, gone on to study Sustainable Development (MA) at The University of Edinburgh and is passionate about furthering her education outside of the lecture hall.
Miss Redhead will be volunteering on behalf of Edinburgh Global Partnership (EGP) who provides sustainable development initiatives across Africa, Asia and South America. EGP are a student- run, non-profit society based at the University that aims to assist in community led projects overseas.
In partnership with WindAid Peru, eight students from The University of Edinburgh will travel to Peru to spend their summer volunteering in rural areas with the aim of; providing electricity to rural communities, allowing them to reach basic needs through renewable energy. And to spread awareness of sustainable development and climate change in the Global South.
The project takes place over a space of eight weeks that includes – four weeks constructing wind turbines and preparing educational aids in the coastal city of Trujillo. Then onto two weeks installing turbines. As well as educating the locals on the maintenance and the importance of renewable energy in the rural village Canlle, a village an hours walks away from the nearest road. Finally two weeks travelling around surrounding villages spreading awareness to the local people and repairing previously installed turbines.
Students volunteering with EGP are required to fundraise £9000 that goes directly into the project to buy turbines that are then donated to the communities. Also covering the costs of the trip. Miss Redhead kicked the fundraising off on Boxing Day by participating in the Boxing Day Dip at Seaton Carew Beach, raising an amazing £823, helping her on the way to reaching £9000!
Any donations are welcome and hugely appreciated on Eve’s Just Giving page.
