Alternative Technology Association (ATA)

East Timor is one of the poorest nations in the world. It is estimated that up to 20% or 40,000 East Timorese homes will never be connected to a mains electricity grid due to their remote mountainous locations. Clean solar lighting a cheap way to improve the quality of life of East Timorese people.

Since 2003, the Alternative Technology Association (ATA) has been working with Timorese communities to provide clean, renewable lighting and electricity. We have helped to install solar lighting and power to more than 1000 homes, community centres, orphanages, schools and hospitals in remote rural villages.

Installing a solar lighting system in a typical East Timorese house has multiple benefits including:
Removing the use of kerosene as a fuel, eliminating the health issues associated with the burning of fuel with little/no ventilation system.
Providing lighting to enable children to study and improve literacy.
More opportunities for households to increase their income by making handicrafts, processing food or engaging in other income producing activities.

The key to success of the project is the training of local community members in the installation and maintenance of the solar systems. Our project partners CNEFP an East Timorese training institution will coordinate the equipment assembly, train-the trainers and training resources for the local community.

The ATA’s International Projects Group consists of volunteers who are skilled professionals giving their time and expertise to design, install and provide training for renewable energy systems. We have a strong focus on training Timorese people to install and manage their own solar power and lighting.

The funds raise will pay for my return flights and travel insurance to East Timor from Melbourne.

There are a number of challenges that we will address in the roll-out of this project including:

Challenge: CNEFP local training institution does not have capacity to train required installers
Mitigation: ATA would have an ongoing mentoring role with CNEFP staff. If required further training can be undertaken by ATA volunteers with renewable energy teacher training.

Challenge: Householders not paying their monthly fee
Mitigation: The community managed maintenance system is critical to the success of the program.
CNEFP and ATA will have in place a monitoring and audit system to ensure the systems are lasting as expected, and that they are maintained appropriately. CNEFP have experience in the implementation and ongoing support of community-managed system through its water sanitation project.

Challenge: Pre -training requirements for locals eg literacy issues
Mitigation: The course is very practical with training being undertaken by CNEFP staff so there are no language barriers. The training materials are in tetum with a high-use of images.