12 more illiterate grandmothers become solar engineers

This is the end of the training for the 3rd class called «Fandresena»; the official graduation ceremony took place on 03 December 2021 at the Barefoot College Madagascar Training Centre in Tsiafajavona Ambatolampy. These 12 women come from isolated villages without access to electricity. At the center, they have acquired a lot of technical knowledge about solar energy: the manufacturing of solar system components, assemblies and installation, maintenance and repairs. But they have also developed knowledge that can contribute to their personal development and that of their community, what the centre calls “Enriche”: literacy, women’s and children’s rights, kitchens, sewing, micro-entrepreneurship… 

Brigitte, one of the solar engineers from Andavoanemboka, says, “Training really changed my life because I didn’t know how to write or read before. I also hope that from now on I will be more independent of my husband and I will be able to work with my new knowledge acquired during the training. If many women could access this training, I am sure that Madagascar will evolve rapidly and that there will be a lot of changes in rural villages. Not only did I learn things, but I also had new friends from the other two regions of Madagascar. We have exchanged our customs and now have a strong bond. When I return home, I would be happy to share what I know with other women.”

To date, Madagascar has 61 “women solar engineers” from Barefoot College from 18 villages in different parts of the country. The role of women in development is particularly important for WWF Madagascar. Nanie RATSIFANDRIHAMANANA Country Director of WWF Madagascar stresses that What has left a big impression on me today is that training has brought a lot of changes to women learners. The approach of WWF is also to see the human side, to help people in difficulty evolve, to help them to have access to water, electricity, to practice livestock and agriculture. Finally, this project is very interesting, because these learners can become formidable agents of change in their respective villages.”   After this ceremony, the grandmothers all returned to their respective villages. They will soon provide the installation and installation of solar systems as well as maintenance and repairs in their neighbours. A local solar committee will ensure the sustainable management of the electricity service, thanks to regular contributions from households.


Access to electricity in rural communities
An exchange visit on the implementation of the Women Solar Engineers (FIS) approach organized by WWF was held in the village of Iavomanitra district of Fandriana, Amoron'i Mania region from 06 to 11 December 2021.
05 village communities participated in this exchange including Ambakivao/Belo sur Tsiribihina, Voroja/Ampanihy, Ranomay and Ifanato/Betioky Atsimo, Iavomanitra/Fandriana as well as representatives of the  Barefoot College Madagascar and WWF. The purpose of this exchange was to capitalise on each other’s experiences on the specific aspects of the FIS electrification approach and to raise the problems encountered in each village on the management of the solar electricity service in order to find solutions together. Each village was represented by local solar committee members, women solar engineers, and local authorities. 

The community of Iavomanitra 22km from Fandriana, Amoron'i Mania region was the host of this exchange visit. An opportunity for her to showcase the Betsileo culture beyond the technical exchange. Lydia, a solar engineer from Iavomanitra, is delighted to welcome guests to her village: We are also very pleased that the organizers have chosen our village for this year 2021. In general, it is very rare, or even never happens to see so many people in Iavomanitra. I hope that all the things discussed during this exchange will be implemented according to the schedule that each community has set for itself.”
Indeed, each village community has set objectives to be achieved to ensure the sustainability of the electricity service at the level of the villages, through the responsibility of each one, by the members of the solar committees for the financial management and management of electricity users, the technical work by the Women Solar Engineers for the technical work , and the local authorities as support, facilitators and monitoring and control bodies.

The village of Iavomanitra, a source of inspiration
The last day in Iavomanitra was devoted to the visit of the essential oil production workshop of Ravintsara and Geranium of the local community of Iavomanitra. Ten years ago, WWF equipped the artisans of Iavomanitra with distillery machinery to encourage them to reduce slash-and-burn crops, illegal cutting of precious wood and illegal gold mining in the rainforest of the Fandriana Vondrozo Midongy forest corridor. The local community of Iavomanitra has the capacity to supply up to 200 liters of essential oils per production. The products are then sold in major cities such as Antananarivo and Fianarantsoa.  Visitors have been very inspired by this activity, which works well, and in turn are considering producing essential oil and are convinced that it is important to develop other activities to improve their well-being.