Liberia: Rural Women to Undergo Solar Engineers Training

Eight Rural Liberian Women left Liberia Wednesday, September 21st for India to pursue studies in Solar Electrification at Barefoot College in Tilonia, Rajastah, India, under the Indian Government’s International Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Scholarship. (Source: The Analyst)

The Women were meticulously selected for the Training from four Liberian villages, two from each village, by a joint team of Officials of the Ministry of Gender and Development and the Director of Barefoot College, the Institution in India where the Women are to undergo the studies.

The Women, all nominees of the Government of Liberia, are Madams Bendu Sackie and Betty Cooper from Bahr Town in Todee District, Montserrado County; Maama Bawor and Massa Madave, from Bamballa Town, Grand Cape Mount County; Yassah Gbormelee and Garmai Yakpazou, from Salayea Town in Lofa County; and Marie Weeks and Musu Junius, from Juan Town, Grand Bassa County.

Upon completion of their studies the Women are to return to Liberia and electrify their own villages, and subsequently serve as trainers to train more women in solar engineers, who in turn will electrify their villages in a continuing manner.

Towards this end, the Government of India, on bilateral basis, has offered the Government of Liberia, the establishment of five Barefoot Vocational Training Centers in Liberia for the purpose of training more Women Solar Engineers using the already trained women as trainers and to assist the Government of Liberia in capacity building and skill development/upgrading and to scale up and solar electrify more villages, in support of the Liberian Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).

Barefoot College is the Implementing Agency of the Government of India for the establishment of the Training Centers in Liberia, and is to do so through recognized indigenous organizations with track records in selected five counties of Liberia.

The Indian Government’s offer to establish these Vocational Training Centers for training rural women in solar electrification is India’s contribution to the Liberia Government’s development agenda and efforts at the economic transformation of rural Liberia by developing and deploying modern and renewable technologies in rural communities in order to add value to their resources with high socio-economic impact at the local community and grassroots levels. Solar electrification is a Greenfield technology, which is environmentally friendly and cost effective.

The Government of India has been providing these scholarships for training in specialized and professional fields as a policy of sharing India’s experience with other developing countries. It is also part of India’s technical assistance to Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries in line with the principles of South-South Cooperation.

The Indian Honorary Consul General, Upjit Singh Sachdeva (Jeety), assured Liberians that he would continue to seek more and more training opportunities from his Government for Liberians. He said his Government is committed to assisting Liberia meet it’s pressing manpower needs, and as a means of supporting Liberia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). Several Liberians have benefited from the Indian Government Scholarships over the years.