Energy for lighting homes is a basic, yet unfulfilled, need for 80% of Liberia, especially the poor. This poverty-alleviating, small-scale renewable energy project builds capacity for rural women's economic growth, peace, and security. The project provides 1) a viable, low cost lighting solution to rural, off-grid homes of poor families and 2) trains 100 geographically dispersed Liberian women to operate as small business entrepreneurs, technicians, and retailers of the solar panels and parts.
80% (3.6 million) of Liberia's population does not have basic levels of electricity access (e.g., lighting, education, communication, & safety), leaving them in the dark or relying on costly biomass products (e.g., charcoal, firewood, kerosene). Inadequate power generation imperils an environment of peace, security, and economic development. Many women in Liberia struggle to embark on viable career or business paths due to culturally driven gender barriers that decrease entrepreneurial options.
By providing training, startup retail materials, and a small market base, it avails an economically viable, sustainable, and scalable means to impact and bring power to a rural community. It uses the sun, an abundant, renewable, free energy source for basic lighting and to power a single radio. It empowers trained, local, women entrepreneurs to sell, install, and service the solar panels. It's a self-sustaining, "green", entrepreneurial opportunity for select Liberian women in a rural community.
Rural communities will capitalize on a low cost, solar solution that's as accessible as cell phones, establishing a vibrant, expanding market in renewable energy solutions. Women have a viable business option. Access to power increases national peace and security. Educational outcomes improve by increasing access to education with evening classes/study. 100 rural women with power in their homes will be empowered to do the same for 14,000 (= 2,000 families of 7) while sustaining economic growth.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
