Solar Training Apprenticeship : Candidates Announced!

You might remember that earlier this month, we were offering a sustainable job training opportunity for several recent high school graduates to be trained in solar installation. Grant funding from UNDP GEF SGP along with our partnership with Engineered Electric has allowed us to bring onboard three young apprentices from the Abaco community. Our apprentices will receive hands-on training in solar installation along with other electric concepts. During this training, they will be assisting Engineered Electric in installing our solar array at our campus. Our hope is that this experience will provide not only an economic opportunity but spark or intensify an interest in sustainable livelihoods, particularly renewable energy.

Originally, we had planned to accept two apprentices, but we were extremely impressed during interviews, which lead us to accepting three. We are proud to announce our successful candidates for this project : Joshua Russell, Earelle Reckley and Stevano Greene. In one of their applications, they said "I believe that Solar energy is the future of the Bahamas (Being more efficient both environmentally and financially) and I would like to be educated in more careers in this growing industry". Their enthusiasm and passion were shown through both their applications and their interviews, leaving us excited and inspired to grant them this opportunity.

"I believe that Solar energy is the future of the Bahamas (Being more efficient both environmentally and financially) and I would like to be educated in more careers in this growing industry"

The response we had from all applicants to our call for this pilot program was positively overwhelming. We are beyond encouraged to continue our efforts in introducing local youth and the community at large to sustainable livelihoods. This is only the beginning to a larger vision of being able to provide opportunity to young Abaco locals in sustainable livelihoods. Stay tuned for updates on where this project leads us to next.

Special thanks to:

• UNDP GEF SGP for the support of this pilot project

• Engineered Electric for their partnership

• Efains Britus of Engineered Electric for assisting with conducting interviews and leading our apprentices