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Education

Education is a powerful tool in the fight against poverty

Electricity expands the resources available to students and teachers
Three girls in traditional white dresses pose for the camera in Arhuaco territory, Colombia

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of primary schools lack access to electricity, and 50% lack computers and internet (United Nations)

School Electrification

Electricity in schools means students can pursue their passions and follow their dreams.

two boys read a textbook in class in benin

Lighting

In unelectrified places, learning stops when the sun goes down. Connecting schools with solar power allows classrooms to stay lit, creating space for children to read and study in the evening. Extending usable school hours also creates more opportunities for adult learners. 
students at computers in south africa

Computers & Internet

With electricity, schools can run computers and tap into the internet. Teachers can access diverse information and updated resources. Students can follow their curiosity and chart their own futures.

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“Energy is very necessary for the education of the children in the school, for the children to learn how to handle the systems and computers.”

Angela Paulina, Teacher, Arhuaco Territory, Colombia

solar electric light fund training program

Solar Training Initiatives

The clean energy transition requires a massive scale-up of solar professionals. SELF conducts programs around the world to train solar technicians, with a focus on low-income and energy-poor communities. Trainings range from smaller, community-based sessions to university-scale programming.

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Haiti’s National Solar Training Center

Solar power has grown tremendously in Haiti, proving itself a sustainable, reliable, and resilient source of energy for the country. What had been missing, however, was a vocational training program to produce highly skilled solar technicians.

Identifying this need, SELF worked with partners to develop Haiti’s National Solar Training Center (NSTC) at Haiti Tec in Port-au-Prince. This program prepares students for jobs that will maintain and expand their nation’s PV infrastructure.

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Two solar technician students learn how to install an inverter system as part of a Solar Electric Light Fund training