Flickr: eir@si

President Barack Obama’s grandmother recently had her house in Kogelo, Kenya outfitted with solar panels through Greenpeace’s Solar Generation program. The program, which also installed solar panels on the Senator Barack Obama School in Kogelo, is a 20 day workshop to teach young Kenyans about the benefits of solar panels, as well as how to install and maintain them.

“I am very pleased that my home has been improved thanks to solar energy and I’ll make sure my grandson hears about it,” the President’s grandmother, Mama Sarah, said. “Solar power is clean, reliable and affordable, unlike paraffin that is widely used in the area. Also, we now have qualified youth in the village who can help with the upkeep of the systems.”

The workshop was attended by members of the Kibera Community Youth Programme and community members of Nyang’oma Kogelo. By teaching local youth about the technology and benefits of solar energy, the program has provided the community with the resources to utilize solar energy in the future.

This technology is increasingly important around the globe, but especially in developing countries, which suffer the most from the consequences of global warming. Because of global warming, Kenya has seen a drastic reduction in rainfall over the past few years, exacerbating the country’s drought problem and harming agriculture. Solar technology will provide a reliable source of energy while preventing further damage to the environment and stimulating the local economy.

“The workshop and practical installation of solar power are a critical opportunity for us to develop our own skills in renewable energy installation. Not only do we get to act against the devastating effects of climate change in Kenya, but also develop a source of revenue” Robert Kheyi, project coordinator for the Kibera Community Youth Programme, said.

By Elizabeth Wolfe