SHUAR RENEWABLE ENERGY PROJECT

Project Activities in April 2011

In April, LUTW’s project partners Fundacion Natura, and the Association of Pueblo Shuar Arutam (PSHA), carried out training and solar photovoltaic (PV) system installations in the remote village of Kutukus. In all, 15 solar PV systems were installed, bringing electric light and energy for the first time to approximately 150 people. To help ensure the long-term benefits of the system, 17 villagers took part in solar PV training and assisted with the installations.

Project Activities in March 2011

In March 2011, LUTW worked in collaboration with Fundacion Natura, and the Association of Pueblo Shuar Arutam (PSHA), in a residential solar lighting project which directly benefitted 19 families. The Condor Cordillera, located in the southern Amazon forest of Ecuador, is an autonomous territory governed by the Shuar people. The solar lighting project was carried out in Chimius, one of the 45 Shuar communities and home to almost 150 habitants. The people of Chimius live a primarily traditional lifestyle; they have small plots of land for farming and raising animals, they fish and hunt within their territory, and they make a small income from the sale of agricultural or forestry products. The community is well organized and is actively working towards improving their standard of living through initiatives in forestry, health and education. Because the village is remote and separated by the large Santiago River, families have depended on diesel, candles, and batteries to meet their lighting needs. These expenses represent, on average, 15% of the families' modest income.

We received enthusiastic support from the villagers during the installations. 20 of the villagers took part in the training workshop where the principles of solar PV systems, how they work and can be maintained was explained. From this workshop two local technicians were nominated and have committed to maintaining and repairing the community’s solar PV systems. With the presence of trained locals we can ensure that problems are resolved quickly and the lights stay on over the long term. The community was eager to learn about solar energy and expressed the great need for household lighting for education and daily household activities.

We would like to extend a big "thank you" to the Osprey Foundation and the Community Investment Fund for funding the project. We would also like to thank Fundacion Natura staff that worked directly on this project, Patricia Peñaherrera, Antonio Granda, Ruth Elena Ruiz, and the many volunteers such as Nicolas Kingman for their dedication and support in this project.

Recipients

Fabian Ujukam Nawech and Tsankat Chiriup Tupikia with three of their five children ages 1.5, 4, 6 (in pic), 8 and 10 (not shown). The family has always depended on candles and kerosene lanterns for light. Their home now has efficient solar lighting in the kitchen, the bedroom, and in the common area, where the older children do their homework. Tsankat is happy to have light for preparing meals and chicha (a traditional drink made from cassava). She wakes up at 5 in the morning to prepare the children for school so they can make the one hour horseback ride to school.

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