On February 18th and 19th, representatives from the Ministry of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government and Plenty International Belize Limited visited the villages of Machakilha and Graham Creek in the Toledo District to initiate a project entitled Indigenous Female Solar Engineers Scaling up Solar Energy to Machakilha and Graham Creek.
The objective of this project is to provide solar electricity to these two remote communities that are unable to access the Belize Electricity Limited grid. A small solar-powered water system will be installed in Machakilha as well.
Three Maya women technicians, Ms. Florentina Choco, Ms. Miriam Choc and Ms. Cristina Choc, who received training at the Barefoot College in India will install the small household solar systems.
The Ministry will support the project by formally establishing the solar power boards in the communities and by providing materials and logistical support. The Ministry also donated educational supplies to schools in both communities.
Present at the meeting were Hon. Oscar Requeña, Minister of Rural Transformation, Community Development, Labour and Local Government; Hon. Ramiro Ramirez, Minister of State; Mr. Valentino Shal, CEO in the Ministry; Ms. Florentina Choco, Solar Engineer; Mr. Mark Miller, Executive Director of Plenty International Belize Limited; Mr. Augustine Lara, Chairman of Plenty International Belize Limited; and other Plenty Belize representatives.
