What are barefoot solar engineers? They're the youth and women part of the rural poor in India who have been taught how to harness solar power by the Orissa Tribal Empowerment & Livelihoods Programme (OTELP).
As a way to empower the people, create green jobs, and bring power to an area that has had none—not even for cooking, light, or heating—OTELP trains semi-literate and illiterate youth and women to become barefoot solar engineers. The Programme teaches these barefoot solar engineers how to use the sun's power for energy by constructing photovoltaic systems and solar powered lamps.
What's Driving This Trend
- Barefoot Solar Engineers Training
- Training the rural poor as barefoot solar engineers creates green jobs and empowers the youth and women while providing power to areas that have none.
- Photovoltaic Systems Development
- Developing photovoltaic systems in rural areas can bring power to areas that have been ignored by the traditional power industry.
- Sustainability Training and Education
- Sustainability training programs like OTELP empower the youth and women, create green jobs, and bring power to regions in need.
Who This Affects Most
- Renewable Energy
- Renewable energy companies can provide job opportunities and access to power in rural areas by partnering with training programs like OTELP.
- Sustainable Education
- Sustainable education programs can empower the rural poor by providing training and knowledge on how to harness renewable energy sources.
- Social Entrepreneurship
- Social entrepreneurs can create businesses and partnerships that provide access to sustainable energy solutions in rural areas while empowering the community.
