Beneficiaries: Calawis, Rawang, Iraya Mangyan
Status: On-going
Date: Dec 2020-Dec 2022
More than 10 million Filipinos do not have access to electricity. With the country being archipelagic, household communities in mountainous and remote islands are not connected to grids and depend heavily on kerosene lamps as a source of lighting.
Two social enterprises supported by New Energy Nexus Philippines are working towards helping these communities by providing access to clean energy through solar microgrids and home systems, providing capacity building for improving livelihoods. New Energy Nexus Philippines and partner Solar Hope are working to directly scale more clean energy startups and entrepreneurs in the region
“Solar Hope provides solar technologies and equipment to marginalized communities. Our approach to working with communities where we install solar solutions has changed from, “We have the solutions for you” to “You’ve got the solutions and we’re here to help.” – John Mark Napao, Solar Hope Philippines CEO
Solar Hope works with Indigenous communities such as the Dumagats of Tanay, Rizal and the Badjaos in Batangas. Their startup first engaged with these communities in 2018 by providing solar lamps and working with the communities to secure funds and donations for solar microgrids that households can use for a more stable source of light and phone charging. The next phase is to provide solar hubs that will be a center for livelihood improvement, supporting bamboo weaving industries, agricultural products, and other micro-enterprises.
With the support of Indigenous community champions, Solar Hope will train and support a new generation of clean energy entrepreneurs in the region. With the support of Indigenous community champions, Solar Hope will train and support a new generation of clean energy entrepreneurs in the region. With a project funding goal of $16,000, they hope to uplift the lives of these Indigenous People communities by providing them with the appropriate resources in terms of equipment, technical training, and enterprise skills and management. This will enable 4 beneficiary communities to have 208 lighted homes and train 25 community solar champions
As the first phase of providing energy access to the Dumagat community, training is conducted for community champions who will be in charge of the installation and maintenance of the solar home systems. Solar Hope’s goal is to secure funds to be loaned to the beneficiaries, and to work closely with their community champions to support operations until they are able to repay the loans and earn a profit.