Solar Power to Villages in Karen State, Myanmar

 (The author regrets that the consecutive holidays in Japan caused delay to issue this activity report.)

 -Education to State Government Staffs and Installtion of Solar Electricity Systems(SES) in the Ethnical Armed Group(EAG) Area-

 In the past one year BHN has been conducting 2 programs in the State of Kayin(=Karen).

 Educational Training on Solar Electricity Systems(SES) to the State Employees:

 As had been reported in our past report, the coverage ratio of national grid in the State of Kayin is still remaining around 10% of population. Under such situation, the State government has been distributing SESs to individual households in the rural areas.

While BHN is going to end our 3 years project of installing SESs in the public premise , the sustainability of the SESs that we build, as well as the SESs that the government distributed, is a quite important issue and we are now at the last stage of ToT(Training of Trainers) project.

As many as 12~15 State employees are expected to pass the examination to get awarded the qualification of SES Trainers. The Trainers are expected to train other people for a long time to become “Solar Advisers” to guide and educate villagers.

 Electrification in the KNU(Karen National Union) villages:

 After the rainy season was over last Nov. BHN started installation works of 1,370 SESs in the houses of the 15 villages in the KNU area.

As almost all of the 1,370 systems initially planned were installed by the end of Feb., we are planning to install another 200 systems before the next rainy season starts.

Even after this 1^st stage is finished, a large number of people are still left without electricity.

BHN is now coordinating with KNU, Myanmar Government & other organizations for the next project to install SESs for houses and public facilities in the KNU area.

The Nippon Foundation (TNF), another foundation working in the same area, is also building houses & local clinics . Both KNU and Myanmar Government are appreciating that the project by TNF & BHN is becoming a good example to feel the “Value of Peace” and shall encourage other EAGs to seriously consider to make further steps for peace agreement.