A solar energy grid for the Tagbanuas
The Challenge
Approximately 2.45 million Filipino households,
or roughly 10% of the population, live
without access to electricity.
One of the most glaring challenges to full electrification in the Philippines is the country’s archipelagic nature, consisting of over 7,600 islands.
Remote island areas with poor populations are typically considered economically-unviable for distribution utilities to build the infrastructure required to connect communities to existing power grids.
Sufficient and affordable access to electricity is considered by the United Nations as a vital element for economic prosperity and quality of life, represented by SDG 7 and affecting many others like SDGs 4 and 10.
The Beneficiaries
The Tagbanuas are an indigenous tribe living in Busuanga in the Northern part of Palawan island.
The Tagbanuas living in Sitio Dechelem are primarily a fishing and weaving community.
Dechelem comes from 2 Tinagbanua words, Guchi meaning small, and Ilem meaning only.
The community was known as "small only" because they originally began as just 3 households and now comprise 54 households, or 225 people.
Their greatest dream is to secure the education of their children.
Unfortunately, the way to school for Tagbanua kids is particularly challenging, with an 8km distance that needs to be crossed through a mangrove forest and sea. Paddling can take up to 60 minutes one-way. Using a motorised boat cuts travel time to 30 minutes, but brings costs up by Php 90 for gasoline, which is too expensive for Tagbanua families.
Imagine if this was your daily route to school or work. It's no easy task, especially 2x per day!
The Tagbanuas face challenges with a strong sense of community.
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Balay Tarahomonan, which means "Community House" serves as their own learning center where Alternative Learning Systems are offered by 1 teacher for 78 primary and secondary level students.
They built Balay Tarahomonan with their own hands,
and it is a powerful symbol of their community spirit and wish for a brighter future.
Randy Barberi is a 49-year old fisherman.
"It was always my dream to finish school,
but I only got as far as grade 5."
Through Alternative Learning at Balay Tarahomonan, Randy now has a junior high-school level of education with continued learning.
"We get monthly modules to take home. My wife and my kids are my teachers at home because they got further than me in their education. We all learn together and take our tests at Balay Tarahomonan”
Edrik is 14 years old and is the community’s youth leader.
“We can’t go to school because there’s no transportation. We can’t complete our homework and projects because we don’t have laptops and can’t charge our phones. Sometimes when we get home, it’s already dark.
But we want to learn. We really want to learn.”
Nanay Estring is the eldest and hence most respected female in the community.
“I’ve had 10 children and it has been so difficult trying to provide for them, I've really done everything I can.
Many have promised us electricity but it never happened. Seeing you here, hearing your plans, and seeing that you are taking the time to get to know us and our community makes us believe it will happen.
I am happy that someone has finally heard our need.”
The Targeted Impact
To provide the Tagbanuas a solar energy grid that can offer them a renewable, cost-free source of energy to provide lights, ventilation and access to digital learning
at Balay Tarahomonan.
1000
watts of solar energy
225
community members with access to renewable energy
78
primary and secondary
level students
Help us empower the Tagbanuas with a chance for a brighter future!
We want to raise 12,000 Euros by November 2024 which will be used for:
-
Purchase and installation of the solar energy grid
-
Transportation for the technology and team
-
Creation of a short film to document the process
More about the Tagbanua way of life...
They are skilled builders are weavers, constructing their boats, homes, and crafts out of bamboo and nipa, both of which are bountiful in their area.
We asked a community-member what he was doing as we passed him.
"I'm making a new door for my home!" he told us.
The oldest community members always speak first, and their opinions are held to the highest degree - a sign of deep respect and honor for the elderly.
