A grant from the Government of India has brought much-needed solar lighting to Palau’s most isolated communities, providing sustainable energy solutions for households off the power grid.
Through this initiative, the Barefoot Institute facilitated a project to train individuals on solar panel installation while supplying solar power units to Pacific Island nations. Palau was identified as a recipient, with the Belau Association of Non-Governmental Organizations (BANGO) assisting in selecting areas that met the criteria: secluded locations with little to no access to electricity.
A total of 200 solar power units were allocated to Palau, with distribution guided by data from THAFAAS Sonsorol Men’s Association, which identified the total number of eligible households. Selected households from each state were trained in the installation process.
Training took place on Monday and Tuesday (March 10-11, 2025) for 10 households—five from Tobi State and five from Sonsorol State—on the installation of household solar lighting systems. This was part of a project led by specialists from India under an Indian Government Grant aimed at lighting up over 2,000 homes across the Pacific. The initiative, spearheaded by Barefoot College in India, equips households with solar panels, LED lights, and solar lanterns to support vulnerable populations, particularly those off the grid.
Palau received 200 of these systems along with two REW’s and livelihood improvement equipment, including sanitary napkins and sewing machines for residents. BANGO was contracted to coordinate the project in Palau. Given the project’s focus on assisting outlying states without power grid access, BANGO connected Barefoot College with a local NGO from Sonsorol State, THAFAAS Sonsorol Men’s Association.
The two trainers who conducted the sessions were Mr. Kamlesh Singh Bisht and Ms. Dhilsha Jubair. When asked about the outcome of the training and potential future partnerships, Ms. Dhilsha said, “We are very impressed with the excitement that the participants brought to the training and their eagerness to apply what they learned when installing the solar lighting systems. We are optimistic that there will be upcoming opportunities for other projects as our organization, Barefoot College, deals with a variety of livelihood projects to assist local communities, and we have only started with Palau.”
Each solar unit includes one panel, a battery, four 12-volt LED lights, and a handheld lantern. The primary beneficiaries are households in the Southwest Islands, as well as vulnerable populations such as the elderly and persons with disabilities.
“This effort is nothing short of a blessing, especially in these challenging times when transporting supplies is difficult,” said a community member. “This project allows homes to have light without relying on disposable batteries. Some already have solar panels for other uses, but having dedicated lighting is a major benefit.”
With this donation, families in remote areas now have a reliable source of light, reducing dependency on costly and hard-to-transport fuel sources while promoting sustainable energy solutions in Palau’s most isolated areas. By: Eustoria Marie Borja