REES Africa is Taking Rural Electrification Up A Notch
REES Africa is starting the year on a “light” mood, with her first official project of the year, Electrify Kagarko. The electrification project is scheduled to hold from 29th January to 2nd February 2020. Unlike the previous REES Lights projects, which electrified households with solar home systems (SHS), LightUp Kagarko will be taking a different approach with an improved community electrification model — solar microgrids.
A move from the use of SHS to solar microgrids implies an even more inclusive benefit to all the communities involved and the inhabitants therein. Electrify Kagarko will be the third REES Lights project, electrifying communities without prior access to electricity, as with LightUp Lagelu and LightUp Sabokodji. The project aims to go a step further in improving the social and economic well-being of the three communities involved — Madaki, Sarki and Oboi.
Going with how massive and extensive it will be, as well as the lengths of its inclusivity, the project is inarguably one to anticipate. By the virtues of SDGs 7, 11 and 13, Electrify Kagarko pushes to be a stepping stone in the provision of clean energy to give life to the notion of having sustainable communities across Africa, and the globe at large. For a locality that has for over a hundred years remained off-grid, this climate action will help these Kagarko communities remain committed to sustainable energy, as they progress socio-economically. The solar micro-grid being installed will be used to power all the households in the three communities, the school, street lights and generally a business in the communities.
In conjunction with SmartTeller, a financial inclusion strategy is also embedded in the project to enrich their livelihoods as there is a direct link between energy poverty and extreme poverty. The youths in the community will be trained on how to install and maintain a solar micro-grid. Thus, giving them the exposure and experience to venture into the same or similar line of work as solartricians, as well be able to fix minor faults if any, with authorization.
By the virtues of SDG 17, REES Africa is also partnering with DoGood Africa (Sponsor), SocialGood Lagos (Media Partner), Eleven. Eleven. Twelve Foundation (Sponsor), Kaduna State Government and Kaduna Power Supply Company (Partner), WattCore Energy Limited (Partner), STEAM (Media Partner), British High Commission (Partner) and community stakeholders to ensure the success of Electrify Kagarko.
In implementing this project, you can partner with us by donating via:
Paystack.com/pay/reesafrica
Or,
5625239014
FCMB
REES Africa
To follow the conversation, hashtags are: #LightUpKaduna #ElectrifyKagarko
