SEI and SELF Partner for Haiti Solar Training

By Carol Weis, Solar Energy International PV Curriculum Developer and Program Coordinator

This spring, and in the fall of 2011, Solar Energy International (SEI) and Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) partnered for two solar training courses for SELF's Haitian technicians.

The first course was held in November 2011 and was designed to review installation techniques and maintenance of systems. The second course - which took place March 26-31, 2012, as a train-the-trainers course - taught SELF technicians to train onsite hospital staff including the Site Energy Managers (SEM) and the onsite Operators and Maintainers (OM). SEI created booklets and instructor manuals for three different trainings: general hospital staff, the SEM, and the OM. SELF selected eight SELF technicians to attend this training and all eight participants learned how to teach to these three groups.

This six-day "train the trainers" course was divided into three parts. The first two days were in the classroom learning teaching pedagogy, reviewing the three-course booklets and curriculum, and practicing teaching in front of the class. The other two segments were spent going to two remote hospitals for the students to practice teaching to these three groups with each other's support and also performing maintenance at the hospitals by following the SELF maintenance manual and monthly, quarterly, and annual reports.

Students were required to demonstrate competency in effectively using the curriculum while teaching the SEM, OM and hospital staff, and answer questions that came up during their instruction. A special emphasis was placed on safe practices while doing maintenance.

The Solar Electric Light Fund (SELF) is a Washington, DC-based nonprofit working to eliminate energy poverty through the use of solar power.