16 Aug 2021

About 200 solar systems will soon be installed in selected homesteads in Seronga village in the Okavango region.

The village is currently powered by generators, and solar systems will augment the current power supply.

The project is facilitated by Great Plains Conservation Botswana as part of its corporate social responsibility.

In an interview recently, Great Plains Conservation community liaison officer, Mr Gobotsang Mokgathong said they raised funds and purchased about 200 solar systems which comprised panels, cables and bulbs, among others.

He said they were currently working with the village leadership, social workers and Okavango Community Trust to assess and select beneficiaries.

The idea, he said was incepted in 2019 when directors of Great Plains Conservation and India’s Barefoot College met and agreed to train some Batswana in solar system engineering.

He said the same year, nine women from Okavango were sent to Barefoot College for a six-month training programme.

Mr Mokgathong noted that the project was also a form of empowerment and employment opportunity for the women because they were to be engaged in the installation and maintaining of the solar systems at a fee.

He further stated that Great Plains Conservation would purchase the needed equipment for installation.

Meanwhile, Mr Mokgathong highlighted that the nine women did not only benefit on the solar training part, because upon return, Great Plains Conservation assisted them to register small businesses and acquire certificates through CIPA.

“We also assisted them with startup cash to start businesses of their choice,” he said. ENDS