What is a Solar Mama

Solar Mamas is an affectionate term that refers to the uneducated, courageous women from poor, rural communities who are chosen to become solar engineers. These women will become solar engineers while continuing to be mothers, grandmothers, aunts and sisters.

How Solar Mamas are Selected

It takes a village

The selection process to become a Solar Engineer/Solar Mama is carried out in situ by the communities. Most often the entire community is involved in the selection process. It’s done this way because it is important to begin all Solar Mama programs by including the whole community in the journey of choosing which women will become engineers. This helps each individual in the community to feel valued in the process of selection. 

Our shared aim is to help our participating communities better themselves. We want our program to help community members discover the value and skills that exist within their own female family and friends. Ultimately, the changes become self-sustaining because we give local communities ownership and agency over implementing the future.

Meet our Solar Mamas from Nepal

Tsering Pama Lama

Tsering Pama Lama our solar mama from the village of Torpa, and the smallest village of Nyin Valley. Tsering is 43 and has two children, one currently being educated in Kathmandu. Torpa is our first village to install solar home lighting systems.

WHAT THIS PROGRAM MEANS TO tSERING:

Historically, the village of Torpa depends on hydroelectricity.  However, the cold winters cause the lines to freeze and systems to breakdown. It is now her responsibility to manage the entire process of installation and maintenance within her community. Tsering believes that her education to become a solar engineer, is all about human rights and creating a civil society, livelihood and micro - enterprise skills.  Tsering is happy and shows her strong desire to empower other women in the community.

Chhepa Lahmu Lama

Chhepa Lahmu Lama our solar mama from the village of Burunse, and the largest village of the Nyin Valley. Chhepa is 46 and has three children that currently are in school in Humla.

 WHAT THIS PROGRAM MEANS TO CHhEPA:  

The women of Chhepa’s village are not typically allowed to leave the village.  Men are expected to go out into the world and work while the women maintain the household. This trip is Chhepa’s first time away from her family and she is excited to be educated and bring back valuable new skills to her village.

Laiku Lama

Laiku Lama our solar mama from the village of Bargaun. Laiku is 47 with a family of three children, two boys and one girl.  Her daughter is currently going to college in Kathmandu, while her younger boys study in the village.

 WHAT THIS PROGRAM MEANS TO LAIKU:

Like Chhepa and Tsering, her family are happy that she graduated from Barefoot College as a solar engineer with a valuable set of new skills to earn a living and help transform her community. She also has a strong desire to empower the women in her community.

NOTE:

During the colder months of the year, when the hydroelectric systems break down, it is very costly to light the house via lanterns.  Each family can spend up to 70,000 NPR (Nepalese Rupee) or USD $675 per annum.  Solar power will greatly diminish this hefty cost that weighs on the families and provides for a cleaner quality of air as well.   

HOW WE ARE DOING THIS - PROJECTS IN NEPAL

Women Light the World is partnering with Barefoot College International in Rajasthan, India, and Bodhi Tree Foundation Humla from Kathmandu, Nepal to bring solar energy to 1,285 households across 28 villages in the poorest and most remote area Nepal, known as Humla in the Karnali region. Barefoot College International trains women to become Solar Engineers (affectionately known as "Solar Mamas").

wHAT WILL THEY LEARN?

During the next 5 years, 30 + semi-literate and illiterate women from Nepal will team up with other women from around the globe, enrolled in the flagship solar training program at Barefoot College for 5 months of experiential learning. They will graduate as Solar Engineers, equipped with the skills and knowledge to fabricate, maintain and repair solar systems. Upon their return home, each woman will be competent to manage the entire process of installation and maintenance within their respective community. 

What is enrich training?

Alongside the solar training, the women participate in the ENRICHE curriculum that introduces them to the principals of entrepreneurship with a focus on environmental stewardship. The classes are language agnostic and use experiential learning to make the content accessible to all, regardless of where they come from and their literacy capabilities.  The course includes 200 + hours in the following topics: 

• Self-Awareness

• Women’s Health

• Financial Literacy

• Digital Literacy

• Environmental Stewardship

• Human Rights and Civil Society

• Livelihood and Micro-Enterprise Skills

OUR intended outcomes

When a Solar Mama turns the lights on in her home community, a virtuous cycle of transformation gets underway. Through this project, these are a few of the outcomes we will achieve:

• Economic activity increases dramatically

• Children study three times longer than previously

• Health outcomes and persistent health concerns improve immediately

• Environmental sustainability is catalyzed

• Disaster response and mitigation strategies are set in place

• Gender roles are challenged and in most communities overcome