Solar Powered Systems Job Skills Training
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.
The Filipina Women’s Network (FWN) is collaborating 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 ‘13).
With the support of a local partner in Tacloban, headed by Sr. Tonette Echavez of the Pauline Sisters in Tacloban City, FWN has pre-selected 25 women beneficiaries who are Haiyan survivors living in the UN Tent City.
In this special program, the women will be trained to assemble solar panels and to install these panels in homes. SolarSolutions, our technical partner, will install 25 solar power lighting and cellphone charging systems with the women beneficiaries.
The women will be trained by SolarSolutions and will do actual installations together in their bunkhouses, tents, or evacuation centers.
SolarSolutions required a $13,000 budget:
Cost of materials and installation:
P 17,000/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
FWN launched the training project with a $15,000 grant and the first training was held February 28, 2014.
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, women will be 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.
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