There’s been a lot of debates about what would win a contest or “war” between Hi tech and low tech. They both have their strengths and vulnerabilities. They both have a necessity of training and education. Suppose they could work together in some way? Would that be impossible due to lack of compatibility? Add the ingredient of human resolve to the mix and most of the time you can toss assumptions right out the window.
During the course of the past few years there have been an abundant amount of companies, projects and stories of new or improved clean energy products to better our world, make things more energy efficient and help those who need it most. With all of the advances surfacing, there has not been one instance of actually helping people or distributing any of the tech to the places they all name as “needing it” until recently.
Green Energy Africa was established in Kenya in 2010. Its goal is to provide clean energy solutions to the people of their country at affordable cost. The company started a partnership project called WEREP (Women Entrepreneurship in Renewable Energy Partnership). Initially, 10 women and youth groups were provided with seed capital to establish business enterprises. That enterprise being the selling, delivery and setup of small solar power systems to remote areas of Kenya. They were trained on the simple installation of solar panels, their charge controllers and a small battery in conjunction with solar powered lanterns. GEA is selling these systems to women at a wholesale price; they are delivering and installing them at a profit of around 300 shillings (about $3). So, what’s the low tech part? Everything is delivered by Donkeys. No car or truck, no gasoline, fuel or even feed considering donkeys graze most of the time.
For the unknowing, Kenya is in east central Africa and is home to roughly 45 million people. It has just about every type of terrain from grasslands to snow covered peaks. Due to its proximity to the earth’s equator, Kenya also has an incredible potential for solar energy all throughout the year. With all of its prosperity it’s still a country where almost 70 percent of the population is too poor or too remote to connect to the national power grid. Under normal circumstances, it isn’t unusual for people to travel 15 Km or more just to charge a cell phone or purchase kerosene for light and firewood for heat. For them, these women and their donkeys are the thing dreams are made of.
When the WEREP started, the original goal was 10 groups delivering 400 systems in 2 counties. To date, there have been well over 2000 set up and there are over 200 women and groups now participating in the revolutionary movement. As a double bonus; this is a culture where woman are not allowed to own property. They DO, however their own solar technology. A step forward for the country and for global women’s rights.
Bibliography
Green Energy Africa | Home:: Welcome. (2014, September).
Obi, L. (2015, June 3). Toting panels on donkeys, Maasai women lead a solar revolution.
Obi, L. (2015, June 3). Toting panels on donkeys, Maasai women lead a solar revolution.
