Thanks to collaborations with NGOs and charitable foreign foundations such as the German "Misereor" or the US "Charles Stewart Mott Foundation", for the past two years the Salesian center "Don Bosco Oysterbay" in Dar es Salaam has developed training programs in the field of renewable energy. Launched in 2017, these courses have enabled the quality technical training of 120 young people each year, selected from children who are the most needy and at risk of social exclusion.

Among the top 35 young graduates of the solar energy training course, there is also Imani Mwasonga, one of the graduates who comments: "The training has been a great platform for me to learn and acquire new skills, enabling me to explore the use of solar energy. I hope to maximize my skills, empower the community to take advantage of solar power and, in the process, make the world a better place to live in."

Given the success of this pilot project carried out at the "Don Bosco Oysterbay", the "Charles Stewart Mott Foundation" granted a further grant to the Salesian Mission Office of New Rochelle, USA, to finance the same educational initiative at the centers of Salesian formation in Dodoma and Iringa.

In total, the 3 training centers - in Dar es Salaam, Dodoma and Iringa - will annually train 300 students in the installation, operation and maintenance of solar photovoltaic systems. The centers will also collaborate with companies active in the solar energy sector and with the government to offer apprenticeship opportunities to teachers and students.

In Tanzania, only 15% of the 41.5 million inhabitants has access to electricity, with only 12% of urban areas and 2% of rural areas having access.

Since electricity is slow to arrive in many areas, Tanzanians are opting for renewable energy and especially solar panels. Rural areas, in particular, are adopting photovoltaic (PV) technology more rapidly, largely due to the absence of an electricity grid. However, with the increase in the adoption of solar energy by rural and sub-rural communities, the lack of qualified technicians remains a challenge for the sector.

The new renewable energy training programs started at the Salesian centers can thus meet the needs of the population and provide employment opportunities for young people in need. All with respect for Creation.

Source: Salesian Missions 

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