How solar energy f***s up youth at rural training hub
At 20, Constance Mghoi dreams big. She wants to become an international clothes’ designer with her a production line patronised by the rich and famous. It is this dream that drove her to Kishushe Vocational Training Centre (VTC) where she enrolled in a dressmaking course — her launch pad.
“I plan to make a living from dressmaking,” she vows. Mghoi is among over 40 youth enrolled at Kishushe VTC. Each has a personal goal; to acquire market-oriented skills and strike it out on their own to escape the poverty that has characterised most of their lives. For many years, Kishushe residents have faced monumental challenges.
They include ravaging drought, perennial human-wildlife conflicts mainly from elephants and hyenas from Tsavo National Park (both East and West) and nearby conservancies, and a lack of key infrastructures like road networks and electricity.
To empower the locals, the county government 2019 constructed the VTC as an empowering programme. Kishushe is one of the most marginalised areas in Taita-Taveta County.
The centre would equip the youth with skills in various practical fields including carpentry, masonry, hairdressing and dressmaking. A non-governmental agency working in the region later donated equipment for hairdressing and dressmaking courses. James Kombo, manager of the VTC, says the donation bolstered skill acquisition.
But there was one major impediment: power connection. There was no electricity to the centre, making it impossible to utilise the equipment. It was then packed in boxes and tossed into a store. “We had no idea when we would get electricity to operate the machine,” he laments.
All this time, dozens of learners in the hairdressing course did not take practical lessons on the use of salon machines, including blow dryers, driers, toners and sterilisers. The nearest they came to practical lessons was in plaiting and combing hair pasted on dummy heads.
It was not even possible to introduce additional courses like welding, metalwork and fabrication. That was then. Currently, Kishushe VTC is a model on how innovation in the energy sector and adoption of green energy Students at a tailoring course in Kishushe Vocational Training Centre.
How solar energy fires up youth at rural training hub Faced with severe drought, human-wildlife conflict and poor infrastructure, girls troop to Kishushe for skills in drought-prone areas can promote skills for youth and young mothers. In 2021, the centre benefitted from a green energy project undertaken by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and funded by BMZ German Federal Ministry for Economic Development.
The project entailed installing 70 high-voltage solar panels able to generate power equivalent to a three phase electricity connection.
A power room with 100 batteries for power storage was also set up. Since then, the VTC has roared to life. The hairdressing equipment and dressmaking machines are no longer idle, while the number of students has peaked, especially in practical lessons like hairdressing.
Mercy Mzae, a hairdressing instructor, says the number of learners has gone up. She says practical lessons have allowed the VTC to have its first batch of 17 students sit for the National Industrial Training Authority (NITA) examinations. All students passed and graduated to the next level.
“We are now competing well with learners at other VTCs. We could never present learners for NITA exams without a power connection. It has revolutionised learning for girls and young mothers,” she says.
A key success has been the commercialization of hairdressing skills by resourceful learners who are sourcing hairdressing jobs from women and girls in the villages at a small fee. The learners are using the donated equipment to earn a living.
“Also, they are embracing entrepreneurship skills,” she said. The entrepreneurship fever has spread to the dressmaking course.
Learners are using electric sewing machines which are considered more efficient and faster than manual ones. They also have electric iron boxes, unlike in the past when they used charcoal to heat old-fashioned iron sets.
Most are getting dressmaking jobs from pupils and residents of nearby villages. Mghoi, a dressmaker, says that after finishing schoolwork, she works on private jobs which earn her money to buy personal effects. If the workload is large, she works late into the night.
“There is good lighting and security to work late,” she says. Mohamed Awer, chief executive officer of WWF, says solarizing the VTC is compatible with conservation goals to empower rural communities. He adds that WWF promotes initiatives that promote local industries and encourage sustainability.
“The sun is a great resource. Tapping and utilising its clean energy remain at the heart of our projects. This is in tandem with our goal of having nature-based solutions to local challenges,” he said.
Kombo, the centre manager, says the next phase is diversification and the introduction of power-intensive courses which are in high demand.
They include electrical, wiring, welding and fabrication, food processing and beauty therapy. Lack of power was a major impediment to such diversification, he says.
