Barefoot Mercy

of Light initiative (launched at the end of 2011) which harness the power of streams/ rivers for the provision of off-grid electricity. These systems reduce reliance on diesel generators and has brought electricity into some homes for the very first time. Electricity provides not only lighting but also enhances food security for some of these remote communities with the ability to freeze/ refrigerate food and enables the establishment of cottage industries. Our micro-hydro projects are based on collaboration between urban and rural communities. Our funds are sourced from urban ‘friends’ in order to procure materials. Rural communities provide labour for the installation of these micro-hydro systems, with our technical support. We have thus far installed 9 micro-hydro systems near Lawas and Lubok Antu. We have also held 3 ‘Light-Up’ celebration weekends upon project completion where we host guests from urban areas interested in understanding a perspective of life in rural Sarawak as well as other groups (Malaysian Medical Fellowship, MaGIC Social Enterprise) looking to make a contribution in these areas. We have also provided solar lanterns, a lighting alternative for communities without suitable water sources for the installation of micro-hydro systems, to 2 communities in Baram and solar home systems in a rural pre-school for Penan schoolchildren in the same area. In 2015, we formalised a second wave of collaboration with our micro-hydro villages to assist with their economic growth. We conducted a workshop in the pineapple-growing village of Puneng Trusan to educate the womenfolk on converting their harvest to products that would minimise the usual wastage of fruits and to provide further means of cash generation. At the end of 2015, we also launched a second initiative called the Gift of Hope to provide education support, in particular of the work of Persatuan Perkembangan Pendidikan Orang Pribumi which focuses on providing pre-school education to Penan children. This initiative centres around assisting PPP Orang Pribumi in the build of new premises for one of their kindergartens, Tadika Pawah, as well as in securing funds for ongoing costs to keep Tadika Pawah going under a student sponsorship scheme. Please PM or email us at [email protected] if you would like to get further information on any of our rural electrification, education support and economic growth programmes. We would love to hear from anyone interested in sharing time, resources, ideas and expertise.