Eurolux has partnered with Sophakama Primary School in Du Noon outside Cape Town to provide new lighting, paving and a collaborative mural at a recent activation day. With the help of the learners and teachers, the lighting company also supplied and planted 65 indigenous and 25 fruit trees at the school. This is the first phase of an ongoing project that will see Eurolux install fans, provide playground equipment and renovate some of the class rooms.

"Many schools are in need of help and we feel it vital that corporates work alongside schools and other educational centres to assist in providing the necessary requirements and watch these children benefit from a wholesome learning environment," says brand manager and project coordinator, Andrew Wex.

A lighting analysis done by the company revealed that much of the existing infrastructure in the school could be retained; however there were obvious lighting requirements. Eurolux replaced seven pole floodlights with 85W CFLs, which offer a wide beam perfect for perimeter lighting. Several bulkheads were also replaced and as the school already used fluorescent tubes, Eurolux provided them with new ballasts and tubes for future use.

Sustainability was one of Eurolux's major concerns and the company involved the pupils, teachers and even community members in most of the activities. "They were excited to participate and we believe this helps them to take ownership of the project and their futures as a whole," says Wex.

Eurolux reached out to their top retailers in the Western Cape to form part of the day. Tree planting social enterprise, Greenpop, co-coordinated the day with Eurolux and kicked proceedings off with a talk on sustainable living, explaining how each person can make small changes to protect the planet for future generations.

Wex, summed up the day saying: "With Eurolux staff, supportive retailers, Greenpop and the local community coming together, the planting of close to 100 trees symbolises growth and a shift in mindset to care for and protect our environment and community, preserving it for future generations. The coming together of these parties for a cause that is greater than the sum of its parts is a tribute to things to come. We hope to set a precedent for other corporates to get involved in community projects like this."