Solar Powered Systems Job Skills Training
FWN SEEDED $15,000 GRANT
FWN LAUNCHED THE TRAINING PROJECT WITH A $15,000 GRANT TO SEED THE SOLAR POWERED SYSTEMS SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAM AND 25 SOLAR PANELS KITS. THE FIRST TRAINING WAS HELD FEBRUARY 28, 2014.
The Foundation for Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) collaborates with SolarSolutions Philippines and the Climate Change Commission with the Office of the President of the Philippines on a job skills training program. This collaboration was initiated with the support of Secretary Mary Ann Lucille Sering (FWN Global100™ 2013). Give here.
With the support of a local partner in Tacloban, which was headed by Sr. Tonette Echavez of the Pauline Sisters in Tacloban City, FWN has pre-selected 25 women beneficiaries who are Haiyan survivors who lived in the UN Tent City.
Solarsolutions Required A $13,000 Budget
Cost of materials and installation:
P17,000/system x 25 systems = P 425,000
Allowance for the women beneficiaries:
P 250/day x 3 days x 25 women = P 18,750
Logistics costs:
shipping of materials = P 20,000
airfare for TechTeam and subject matter experts = P 25,000
Meals and Accommodation = P 20,000
Miscellaneous Costs (i. e. staffing) = P 15,000
In this special program, the women were trained to assemble solar panels and install these panels in homes. SolarSolutions, our technical partner, installed 25 solar power lighting and cellphone charging systems with the women beneficiaries.
The women were trained by SolarSolutions and are hired for actual installations initially in their bunkhouses, tents, and evacuation centers.
Why Solar Energy?
Low maintenance costs
Solar panels have a Lifespan of 25 years
Battery lasts 3-5 years
No operational costs
High poverty rates existed in target beneficiaries even prior to Haiyan. These communities will continue to benefit from free solar energy even when main grid-power returns
Slows down global warming
Haiyan is an effect of global warming. Resorting to renewable energy will help avoid the recurrence of a similar disaster
FWN launched this training program with a request to fast track the assignments of the bunk houses to the first 25 women we’ve selected. Through the training program, the women were motivated to learn the technical skills to install solar panels by installing the panels in their ‘new’ homes. In addition, the solar panels can also provide additional income for the women by allowing them the choice to charge others a minimal fee to charge cell phones or other electronic products.
THE FIRST TRAINING WAS HELD FEBRUARY 28, 2014.
FWN Founder & CEO Marily Mondejar (center in yellow) at a solar powered systems job skills training in Tacloban, February 2014. To view more photos, visit http://photos.filipinawomensnetwork.org
Let there be light!
Apple, a UN Tacloban Tent City Resident, with big smiles as she successfully installed her solar panel in her tent after completing the solar job training.