Kota Kinabalu: Some 1,000 residents in several villages in Ranau have benefitted from the use of solar lights provided by Swepa under its Project Barefoot 3.0.
State Rural Development Minister Datuk Jahim Jahid said he was happy with the outcome in Kg Paus and nearby Kampung Kigiwit, Walau and Kodop.
He called on all the villagers to always have the spirit of cooperation because the opportunity given by Swepa was a blessing to their village. It was inspired by a programme originated in India and has no now benefitted communities in India, Afrika ad less developed communities.
“Village chiefs, and leaders of all the villages should work together with Solar committee members together with Solar mama Inggai Suging to resolve all challenges in the continued use and maintenance of your solar systems.
“Thus, you would be confident to use the solar system for a long time for the benefit of your family,” said Jahid when closing the Swepa Barefoot Solar project 3.0 Saturday.
His speech was delivered by Assistant Minister Samad Jambri.
Jahid said he understood that project 3.0 faced many challenges which started before the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019 and could not be completed because of the lockdowns during the pandemic.
“All Swepa Barefoot Solar sub-committees have incredible courage to brave unexplored and hilly roads and villages, valleys, landslides and monsoons with a strong spirit to complete the mission of illuminating as many villages as possible. And teaching more ‘illiterate grandmothers’ to be a ‘solar mama’ who are elite in Sabah like the late Tarihing Masanin,Tarihing Masinum, Gining Jaineh, Rusni Singkamung, and Inggai Sigung,” he said.
The persistence of the organising committee of Swepa Barefoot Solar and Food for the Hungry International Sabah, Malaysia (FHIM) has been able to install solar home lighting systems in 130 houses at Kg Paus in 2022, said Jahim.
He congratulated Swepa for its effort in implementing the lighting system for almost 10 years since 2013 under the 1.0. 2.0 and 3.0 Swepa Barefoot projects have brought light to six villages in Sabah,
330 rural homes and close to 3,000 rural folks.
Project Organising Chairperson Datin Jeanette Tambakau said the project entails training illiterate rural grandmothers to become solar mamas, who will solar electrify their villages and bring about changes to transform their lives for the better.
“Footprints set in 2015, treaded over time and produced ‘solar mamas’ among them Tarahing Masanim, Gining Jaineh, Rusni Singkamung, and Inggai Suging via a collaboration of governments of Malaysia and India to unite these two countries through their socio-economic development.
“The Barefoot Solar Project (BSP), over time, was recognised by many and its noble cause immediately touched the hearts of various individuals & corporates who donated generously to this worthy and meaningful endeavour to help others less fortunate.
She said many challenges were faced along the way and numerous visits by the BSP team to conduct meaningful dialogues to ensure that the trip to India would only benefit their lives and communities.
“The first solar mama,Tarahing Masinim made Malaysia and Sabah proud by graduating as the top student in her class and she went on to receive the BSK award appointed to her by the Sabah Head of State in 2016, followed by Inggai Suging, who was awarded Anugerah Wanita Cemerlang in March 2020 by the Sabah Government at the Sabah Women’s Day Celebration 2020,” said Jeanette.
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