More Marudu villages to light up – due to Swepa
Published on: Sunday, September 18, 2016
Kota Kinabalu: Kota Marudu District Officer Arnold Joibi saluted the Sabah Women Entrepreneurs & Professionals Association (Swepa) for their initiative in empowering two more rural women from the district who will light up another 100 households in three villages under the Swepa Barefoot Solar Project 2.0.Gining Jaineh, 44, (Kg Benontungan Suyad) and Rusni Singkamung, 44, (Kg Sungai Magqandai) have just returned to Sabah after completing a six-month training stint in solar engineering at the renowned Barefoot College in Tilonia in the State of Rajasthan, India. The third village is Kg Sonsogon Suyad.Joibi said Swepa has transformed the lives of three illiterate grandmas, the first "solar mama" being Tarihing Masanim from Kg Sonsogon Magandai who graduated from Barefoot College in 2015 under the Swepa Barefoot Solar Project 1.0.
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Speaking at the Pre-Launch of Lights and Mock Launching of the Rural Electronic Workshop (REW) cum Homecoming Reception at the Palace Hotel, Saturday, he said: "Swepa has done it again, this time in efforts to uplift the lives of people in the three villages. You have yet again created history for all of us in Kota Marudu, Sabah and Malaysia."No one could have thought that these illiterate women could do what they have achieved today. I am very proud that Gining and Rusni have travelled over 9,500km to and fro, to gain knowledge on solar power engineering and electrification."They even graduated from Barefoot College in Tilonia, India, together with 38 other illiterate women from other countries.
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And to think that before this, they had hardly stepped out of their kampong." The launch of solar lights at Kg Sungai Magandai (for all three villages) is scheduled to take place early next year. Like Tarihing, the fresh "graduates" will be making a difference in the lives of their communities.Turning to Gining and Rusni, Joibi said: "Tahniah. Kamu telah membuat kami begitu bangga sekali dengan pencapaian kamu berdua (Congratulations Gining and Rusni! Both of you have made us very proud of your achievement)."
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Describing them as "incredible women", the Kota Marudu District Officer said despite their illiteracy, they were able to learn all about the engineering aspects of building, installing and maintaining the system for solar lights. He led everyone present in giving the duo rounds of applause."They had to learn how to read letters, numbers and identify colours which they had never done before and they succeeded. "They have acquired knowledge on how to identify parts, how to connect different coloured wires to different parts, how to install and place the solar panels to face the most sunshine and how to fix problems when the solar lantern does not light up."All this learning, even being 'buta huruf' (illiterate) and not being able to speak English or the Indian language. Even the educated like us will find this a difficult task," he pointed out, adding it goes to show that illiteracy is not a barrier to learning.Joibi noted that apart from Tarihing, Gining and Rusni would also become "role models" to other women in the rural communities, not only in Sabah but the rest of Malaysia.He told the grandmas: "Be grateful to all those that have given you the opportunity to have lights in your homes. Encourage your villagers to make the most out of the lighted up nights. Be creative to earn more income."Get your younglings to spend more time reading books and other materials to improve their knowledge. We, the Government, Swepa and other organisations are ready to help and support you in making the villages more economically sustainable. There are a lot that can be done in the kampungs, such as sewing clothes, farming and handicraft-making."Together with the Deputy CEO of Sabah Energy Corporation (SEC), President of Swepa, Wynnie Jong and Project Organising Chairperson, Datin Jeanette Tambakau, Joibi cut a REW-shaped cake to mark the mock launching of the building (completed at Kg Sungai Magandai)."I understand the REW building will serve as a training centre as well as a workstation for Gining and Rusni on solar power-related works. It is now ready to serve the surrounding communities. We owe this success to Sabah Energy Corporation (SEC), Raleigh International and local volunteers from the villages concerned."Asian Forestry Company Sabah (AFCS) provided logistics support for the Raleigh Team throughout the construction of the REW. While SEC funded the cost of the building, Tan Sui Lin Foundation in Hong Kong has provided funding for the procurement of solar panels, batteries, LED lights and solar lanterns for the 100 families in the three villages," he said while giving the sponsors a pat on the back for their invaluable contributions to the project.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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