Posted on December, 06 2019

The release of the first cohort, named Meva, was celebrated on December 3, 2019, with the the Mayor, representatives of the Ministry of Energy, and  the Ministry of Population, the cultural and educational agent at the Indian Embassy and partners from Barefoot College in attendance.

These women left their families and their respective villages (Nosy-Bé, Betioky South and Ambatolampy) to attend solar energy training in the center of Tsiafajavona for five months. This training was provided by four female solar engineers who followed the same training at Barefoot College in India. Together, they also benefited from the "Enriche" training programm, which covers various topics: women's and children's rights, agriculture, especially market gardening, poultry farming, nutrition, women's health, microenterprise management and environmental protection. Some of them were able to learn to read and write.

According to Razanamihaja Marie Claire, from Tsiafajavona, one of the graduates of the training center : "When the president of my Fokontany came to talk to us, I was really interested in the training. I have learned a lot here. I will go home to share my knowledge and experiences on solar energy, agriculture, livestock and environmental protection in my village. That way, I will be both a leader of light and development.”
These women are now able to manufacture, assemble and install solar systems and can conduct interviews with the support of a local solar committee in their village. According to Voahirana Randriambola, President of the National Barefoot College Madagascar Programme: "Some of these women have received little or no school education. And yet, they have a real willingness to learn and to help their villages developing.” In a few years' time, the center will increase its capacity to 100 women per year. See you in February for the next school year!