Kota Kinabalu: Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Hj Aman announced an on-the-spot allocation of RM50,000 for the Sabah Women Entrepreneurs and Professionals Association (Swepa).He made the announcement when officiating the 12th Installation of Swepa (2017-2019) and Charity Gala Dinner in aid of Swepa Barefoot Solar Project 3.0 at the Magellan Sutera Hotel, Sunday.It is a reflection of the government's continued support for Swepa's initiatives to help bridge the gap between rural and urban women.
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"I believe the new Executive Committee led by its new President Datuk Aminah Ambrose will continue Swepa's programmes to empower members and the community that they serve," he said after witnessing the installation of Aminah as the 12th President by her predecessor Wynnie Jong.Musa also witnessed the presentation of a mock cheque for RM192,000 from renowned international photographer Patrick Low, 50, from Kuala Lumpur to Aminah, and the presentation of a mock cheque for RM25,000 from Aminah to Swepa Barefoot Solar Project Organising Chairperson Datin Jeanette Tambakau (being part of the proceeds from the charity gala dinner in aid of Project 3.0).The sum of RM192,000 was raised from Low's 3D Live Portraiture Fund-Raising Project (in collaboration with Swepa) under his corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme dubbed Silver Lining 2. It was in aid of the Swepa Enriche programme which is actually the second phase of Swepa Barefoot Solar Project 2.0. Enriche is all about socio-economic empowerment of rural women in four villages in Kota Marudu – Kg Sonsogon Magandai, Kg Sungai Magandai, Kg Binontungan Suyad and Kg Sonsogon Suyad.
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This initiative is undertaken by a team headed by Tambakau in her capacity as Head of Community Development in the new executive committee.The CM also received a copy of the book "Let There Be Light" on the Swepa Barefoot Solar Project compiled by blogger Casey Leong, one of the 14 partners of the project which was initiated in 2013 and got off the ground in 2014 as Project 1.0 (completed in 2015 and followed by Project 2.0 in 2016 which was completed this year).
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Daily Express is the media partner.Musa was pleased to meet the three illiterate grandmothers, now hailed as "solar mamas" , having lighted up their respective villages after graduating from the Barefoot College in India – Tarihing Masanim (Kg Sonsogon Magandai, Barefoot Solar Project 1.0), Gining Jaineh (Kg Binontungan Suyad/Kg Sonsogon Suyad, Barefoot Solar Project 2.0) and Rusni Singkamung (Kg Sungai Magandai, Barefoot Solar Project 2.0).The presence of a 22-member delegation from the International Federation of Business and Professional Women (IFBPW) –Taiwan Taoyuan Club added significance to the event. It was jointly led by Jennifer Cheng (Charter President, IFBPW –Taiwan Taoyuan Club), Mandy Tsai (Current President, IFBPW – Taiwan Taoyuan Club) and Grace Chung (President Elect, IFBPW-Taiwan Taoyuan Club).Their Friendship Trip to Sabah to meet up with Swepa's leaders and members was to reciprocate the latter's Goodwill Visit cum Business Matching Tour of Taiwan in May this year.Earlier, Aminah reported that the association is moving into Barefoot Solar Project 3.0 following the success of Project 1.0 and Project 2.0. She said two villages in Nabawan, Pensiangan have been identified as potential beneficiaries, and two grandmothers will be sent to Tilonia in the State of Rajasthan, India, to be trained as "Solar Mamas" like their predecessors."We are proud and happy to have successfully empowered and completely transformed three very brave and able women from Kota Marudu. They are Tarihing, Gining and Rusni. These illiterate grandmothers, who had never been on a plane before, flew to India where they attended a six-month training course in solar engineering to learn how to fabricate and repair solar lanterns, and how to install and maintain solar panels."They had since returned home to solar electrify their own villages. While the government has done so much for the people, Swepa had come in to make the small difference we can, working hand in hand with the government," she said.However, Aminah lamented that for the past four years, Swepa has only managed to train three grandmothers and electrify 200 households. "The resources used have impacted 2,000 people in the four villages. Still, we consider it too few as we see many hundreds of rural villages and people continue to suffer without electricity as the sun sets each day. The on-grid power may not reach them in the nearest foreseeable future."At this juncture, the new President said it is Past President Datuk Adeline Leong's dream, the association's dream and her own personal dream to have Barefoot Malaysia College right here in Sabah. In June 2015, Leong, then Barefoot Solar Project Organising Chairperson, first made the proposal for the college at the Seminar on Gender Roles and Development jointly organised by IDS in collaboration with Sabah Women's Advisory Council (MPWS)."Some time ago, we had requested Musa to support the setting up of the proposed College. Then we will not only train three, but perhaps 30 or even 300 grandmothers to be solar engineers like Tarihing, Gining and Rusni."The desire to empower more rural women with solar technology skills and light up more villages in Sabah can be achieved through collaboration with the Barefoot College in India to set up a college here or in collaboration with a relevant existing college.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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