Solar power empowers: The transformation of Yaghnob highlights women's strength
In the remote and picturesque Yaghnob Valley of Tajikistan, home to the ancient Yaghnobi people, a groundbreaking initiative is making waves. The Little Earth, a renowned organisation, has launched a project aimed at building resilient communities through small-scale solar energy projects and resource-saving technologies.
This initiative, recognised by the 2024 Gender Just Climate Solutions Award in the Technical Climate Solutions category, is commended for its potential to give agency to women and enhance community resilience. The project, spearheaded by Anisa Abibulloeva, has trained over 40 women from 11 villages to use and maintain solar devices and energy-efficient technologies.
Women in the Yaghnob Valley play a pivotal role in daily life, managing household chores, caring for children, preparing meals, and taking on physically demanding tasks such as livestock management and fuel collection. However, energy poverty in the valley exacerbates women's struggles, as the region is not connected to the national electricity grid and relies on fragile homemade hydropower systems and reliance on firewood, dried manure, and coal for cooking and heating.
The Little Earth's project aims to bring sustainable solutions, particularly solar power, to remote mountainous communities like those in the Yaghnob Valley. The training provided by The Little Earth reduces environmental degradation, eliminates harmful fumes, supports women in developing technical skills, eases their unpaid workloads, and integrates them into local and national decision-making processes.
Surayo Rakhmatzoda, a beneficiary of the project, reports that the solar devices provided make cooking and boiling water more convenient and efficient, reducing the use of open fire. The project has reduced CO2 emissions by up to 3 tons per household annually and significantly improved health outcomes by reducing indoor air pollution.
The project's success showcases the potential of decentralized clean energy solutions in remote communities. It contributes to the global goal of tripling renewable energy capacity by focusing on off-grid communities. Moreover, the initiative exemplifies how women's empowerment and environmental conservation can be central to small-scale renewable energy projects.
Despite logistical challenges, such as the valley's inaccessibility for up to five months each year, the initiative continues to grow, with plans to expand its reach and focus on youth. The future of energy solutions in remote communities like the Yaghnob Valley relies on scalable models like The Little Earth's, which address climate challenges inclusively and sustainably.
The Little Earth's project is a shining example of how local actions can create meaningful change. It demonstrates that small-scale renewable energy projects can have a substantial impact, not just in terms of environmental conservation and community resilience, but also in empowering women and fostering their participation in decision-making processes.
- The fusion of science, particularly environmental science, and technology in The Little Earth's project is proving instrumental in providing sustainable health-and-wellness solutions, and enhancing the fitness-and-exercise quality of life in remote communities like the Yaghnob Valley.
- The success of this project has caught the attention of the global industry, providing a model for other organizations to follow in improving women's health, while simultaneously addressing climate change and energy issues.
- The initiative's emphasis on financial support, as it explores creative and cost-effective methods for implementing small-scale solar energy projects, is set to reshape the renewable energy landscape in the years to come.
- The lessons learned from The Little Earth's work in the Yaghnob Valley have shone a light on the interconnected web between the health of our environment, the strength of our communities, and the progress of women's rights.
- The future of health, wellness, and climate change mitigation lies in initiatives like The Little Earth, that identify the unique needs of communities and skillfully harness the power of science, technology, and the industry to create a more sustainable and just world for all.
