Swepa hopeful new govt agrees to Barefoot College
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Women Entrepreneurs and Professionals Association (SWEPA) hopes the new government would make its Barefoot College in Tenom a dream come true.
When revealing this here yesterday, its president Major Datuk Aminah Ambrose said that the previous government had agreed to help establish founder Bunker Roy’s Barefoot College locally in Sabah and Yayasan Sabah had also offered a piece of land, either in Tenom or Keningau.
“The one that we are interested in is in Tenom because it was a former college that is no longer used but Yayasan Sabah had agreed to refurbish the whole building,” she said here on Friday.
According to Ambrose, Yayasan Sabah deputy director Datuk Rosmawati Lasuki had recently agreed to brief the current Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal regarding what has been negotiated with SWEPA.
“Hopefully, the current CM will agree with Yayasan Sabah to do this program,” she said.
Ambrose said there is a former school building that is no longer in use on the seven-acre Yayasan Sabah property.
“Bunker Roy had told us that just a dilapidated building he could make do with it but if they have a property, why not,” added the SWEPA President.
“I think this is a very worthy cause and good for the women,” she said.
SWEPA won the 2017 Junior Chamber International Malaysia Sustainable Development Award (JCIM SDA) for the Affordable and Clean Energy category with its Barefoot Solar Project 1.0 and 2.0 in Kota Marudu.
The projects that were aimed to light up villages through empowered women, turned three illiterate grandmothers into Solar Engineers in just six months and solar electrified villages in Kota Marudu till today.
“A village was identified in Kampung Sonsogon Magandai, six hours off road from Kota Marudu. Tarihing Masinim was selected amongst the women in Kampung Sonsogon Magandai and she was Malaysia’s first illiterate grandma solar engineer,” said Ambrose during a presentation at the 2018 JCIM SDA press conference here yesterday.
“Her courage and grit paved the way for others to follow. In March 2016, Gining Janeih and Rusni Singkamung, both farmers and grandmothers signed onto the same epic journey. Hopping on a plane for the first time, they made their way to Barefoot College in Rajasthan, Tilonia, India.
“After undergoing six months of intense training, these women returned home to bring light to their village,” she added.
Today, Ambrose said over 1,000 people in Kota Marudu have electricity and 200 households have been impacted enabling each to save RM1,200 annually without the need to buy diesel for generators and batteries for torches.
In addition, she said there are now opportunities for night time education and economic activities, improved safety and security, and a healthier environment due to reduction of greenhouse gasses.
To ensure sustainability, Ambrose explained that each village has formed a project committee.
“The three solar engineers are responsible for setting up the solar panels and ensuring households are lit, however it is the community’s responsibility to ensure that solar panels are well taken care of. The gift of light is shared responsibility,” said the SWEPA President.
“Each house is required to pay RM15 per month to maintain the solar panels and solar lantern. As a best practice, this fee is collected, recorded and audited, and reported. The fund collected goes to buy parts that need to be replaced,” she added.
Ambrose said SWEPA is looking forward to its Barefoot Solar Project 3.0 and invited those sharing the same vision to explore the possibility of partnership.