Photo: A group from Kanana participate in a skills training and entrepreneurship workshop focused on solar energy.
The Kanana informal settlement is home to approximately 3,000 people. It is located in a rural area close to Bio2Watt’s Bronkhorstspruit Biogas Plant. The community lacks access to grid-connected infrastructure such as water and electricity. The local youth lacks skills to access the job market and economic opportunities are few.
Knowledge Pele, a local development organisation, worked with Bio2Watt and Climate Investor Two to deliver a renewable energy skills training and entrepreneurship programme for 10 young persons from Kanana. The programme consisted of two courses which ran for a period of 16 months, broken into two 8-month courses.
The students were skilled in solar PV system design and installation and, as part of the courses, installed solar PV systems at their homes. Nine students successfully graduated with a certificate linked to South Africa’s national curriculum in electrical engineering.
In addition to building skills and knowledge, programmes like these help to provide the local youth with an understanding of the importance of clean energy to their local community and the wider economy. Crucially, they also help to build confidence and ambition among young people, empowering them to contribute to a more sustainable future.
