Distributing appropriate sustainable energy technologies ("ASETs") to rural schools and developing programs to educate students about the benefits of renewable energy
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PROJECT OVERVIEW
While economic, legal and political barriers to renewable energy development in Southern Africa are many, cultural barriers remain the most complicated. Many efforts to promote sustainable development in Africa fail because solutions are imposed rather than developed through work with communities. Distributed renewable energy is essential to African development, but efforts to encourage its use can easily be derailed by local politics and cultural misunderstanding. To address this problem, Elephant Energy will plant the seeds of a renewable future in the region’s youth through the distribution of renewable energy technology in rural schools. In addition, Elephant Energy will work to strengthen relationships between schools and local conservation organizations committed to sustainable development and wildlife preservation. Through these partnerships, a new generation of rural Africans will be given the opportunity to choose a sustainable future.
The first Solar Schools Partnerships will be established to build relationships between Namibia’s community-based nature conservancy program and rural schools. These linkages are important for the continued growth of a conservation ethic in Namibia. Distributed renewable energy development could provide significant employment opportunities for many youth who today graduate from high school and enter a job market with little opportunity. To address these issues, Elephant Energy will raise funds from donors and utilize profits from the sale of renewable energy technologies to Conservancies to purchase and donate appropriate small-scale renewable energy technologies to rural schools. These technologies range from crank radios to low-cost lighting to solar-powered computers. Elephant Energy will also assist local schools to develop curriculum involving the use of these technologies.