Ten   Rural  Women Renewable Energy Technology  Entrepreneurs Receive    Zayed Future Energy Scholarship , on the occasion of the visit by   Dr. Sultan Al  Jaber  , CEO ,  Masdar ,   UAE

Dipal  Chandra  Barua ,  Managing  Director of Grameen Shakti and the first ever winner of  Zayed  Future Energy  Prize 2009 ,  has created a   scholarship  fund   out of  the US$ 1.5 million received as a part  of  Zayed Future Energy Prize,   to promote rural women as Green Energy Entrepreneurs .

Mr. Barua  designed and  set up 45 Grameen Technology Centers and trained around 5000 disadvantaged rural women on assembling, repair and maintenance of Solar Home Systems .    

Deserving and  poor  women  trained as technicians  by  Grameen Technology Centers are selected for the scholarship to increase their productivity and inspire them to go the next step.   

Through this scholarship, Mr. Barua  is   recognizing    women coming from   poverty stricken families for their courage, skills and especially for their dedication to bring positive changes to their lives and their communities, once given the opportunity to become Green  Renewable Energy Technicians.  

Mr. Barua has a vision  to  create  100000 Green Energy Entrepreneurs through this scholarship  by 2015.   His   vision includes helping these women to set up mini businesses  to market ,  assemble and repair all sorts of renewable energy technologies in their communities. He plans to set up a  foundation with the scholarship fund to provide  destitute rural women with  seed fund ,   technology/ business related  information  and especially help them with quality control .  Later they will become independent and gain the confidence to negotiate  optimum deals with financial institutions and suppliers etc .        
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The scholarship recipients  are  overwhelmed by this acknowledgement.  We are giving below quotes of 10 women who represent   different status of women coming from all over Bangladesh .  They  received  Zayed Future Scholarship on the auspicious occasion of  Dr.  Sultan’s  visit to Grameen Shakti :  

Reena Akhter,    Grameen Technology Center, Singair

“ My father is a poor landless  farmer who works for others .Though I am the youngest among four brothers and two sisters ,  I am now responsible for the family.  My brothers live separately and do not take care of us .  I was forced to stop my education after grade  nine .

I was looking for a way out when I heard about Grameen Technology Centers from an  installer of Solar Home Systems in a nearby village which has many Solar Home Systems .   I went and talked  to the GrameenTechnologyCenter Sisters and was encouraged to join the 15 day  training to become a  Solar Technician.     

I learnt how to assemble , repair and maintain Solar Home Systems. I also learnt about biogas plants ,  Improved Cooking Stoves .  With the help of  GtameenTechnologyCenter Sisters,  I soon started assembling solar accessories at my home . At the beginning ,  I used to earn around  Tk 2000( US$ 30 )  per month and now I am earning Tk.  7000 (US$  100 )  per month  as my efficiency has increased .

I am very happy . Now, I can buy medicine for my father ,  I have started my education again. 

I am delighted to receive the Zayed Future Energy Scholarship  from Mr . Dipal C Barua , Founding Managing Director ,  Grameen Shakti and the First Zayed Future Energy Prize .   I hope to use the scholarship to buy tools to help me to  work faster and better. I am ever grateful to Mr. Barua  for liberating me from the darkness of despair and poverty, and showing me the path to light, happiness and sustainability.  

 I hope   other women will have the same opportunity as I did.  I wish every woman to lead happy, productive lives instead of living in gloom and poverty “     

Saima  Sultana, Grameen Technology Center, Phulpoor

“I have no father . I come from a large family of five brothers and sisters. My mother married me off with a dowry of Tk. 30, 000 (US$ 400)  . But, my  in- laws soon started demanding more money which was not possible for  my family to pay off.

 I had to return to my mother’s  house after my husband divorced me . While staying there ,  I met a Sister from  Grameen Technology Center  who told me about  its 15 day  training of destitute , poor women on Solar PV  technology.

I was very happy to know this  and soon took part in a training to become a Solar Technician. I started working in my community .  I went to people’s  homes and solved their problems with solar technology .  If  I could not solve a problem ,  I went to GrameenTechnologyCenter for help .  I became very popular in my community and people wished me happiness and success,  when I solved their problems .         

Now I have set up a small technology center at my home. I assemble  invertors , DC –DC converters , sitting at my home . Another woman is working with me , she earns around Tk.  7000 (US$ 100 )  per month .    I  am very happy to say that I have earned around Tk. 100000 ( US$ 1500 ) till  now,  with which I bought  a piece of  land  ,   some paddy as well as  opened a saving account at a bank .    

I am so grateful to Mr. Dipal C. Barua , Founding Managing Director , Grameen Shakti and First Zayed Future Energy Prize Winner  for giving me this chance and especially selecting me for Zayed Future Energy Scholarship. Now, I feel very inspired to  work twice as hard as before.  .

Thanks to him , I have become   an independent woman. I look forward to  more and more women  getting  the same chance as I did.”  

Nazma  Khatun,   Grameen Technology Center, Sonathala , Bagura

“I come from a poor family with eight brothers and sisters  .My father is a landless labourer  .   We had to live on an earning of Tk.. 2000   ( less than US$ 10 )  per month.      

I am grateful to Mr. Dipal C. Barua, Founding  Managing Director  and First Zayed Future Energy Prize Winner to give me the opportunity to become a Solar technician.   I have become a very efficient and trusted technician, earning Tk. 5000 ( around  US$ 80 ) per month from assembling invertors .   Now ,  I am able to look after my family and meet their needs.  I am also continuing my education . 

 It is  a very happy occasion for me to receive the  Zayed Future Energy Scholarship  from Mr. Barua .  I will never forget the experience. This is very inspiring.   I hope to increase my productivity ,  earn more around Tk. 9000 ( US$ 130)  per month by  buying  tools with the scholarship  ”   

Suchitra Rani Debnath,   Grameen Technology Center,   Kalihati, Tangail

“ I am very proud to be working as a Solar and Improved Cooking Technician  .I  I have learnt to assemble invertors ,   mobile chargers as well as Improved Cooking Stoves.  I am earning up to Tk 5000  ( around US$ 80 ) per month.  

I am grateful to Mr. Dipal C. Barua Founding  Managing Director and First Zayed Future Energy Prize Winner  for giving this opportunity as well as selecting me for   the Zayed Future Energy Scholarship.  This will make me work harder.  Now I am looking forward to earning Tk .  9000-10000 ( around US$  1600 )  per month.   I hope, my success will inspire other women.  “    

Zayeda Akhter,   Grameen Technology Center, Mowna

“I used to study before and  I studied up to grade 10 . But , my parents married me off when I was eighteen.  My husband was unemployed .After  two years of marriage, I had a son  and then soon after I had another son. It became very difficult to take care of a  family with   two  sons and an unemployed  husband.

I began to look for a job. It was then I heard about the 15 day training to become a Solar Technician at GrameenTechnologyCenter.  I soon learnt how to assemble  invertors, mobile chargers,  DC-DC converters  as well as charge controllers.

After the training,  I soon started working at the GrameenTechnologyCenter. After a month ,  I started working at my home .  I am earning up to Tk. 5000 (around  US$ 80 ) per month now .

My husband has also got a job as a Technician with a Solar Company. . We are all very happy now. We are educating our sons .  I have learnt to stand on my own  feet , thanks to Mr. Dipal C.  Barua  Founding  Managing Director,   Grameen Shakti and Zayed Future Energy Prize Winner .            

 I am delighted and proud to receive Zayed Future Energy Scholarship.  This has inspired me to work harder.  I thank Mr. Barua   from the bottom of my heart for giving me this opportunity. “

Sreeti Akhter,   Grameen Technology Center,  

“I have no father .  But  , thanks to Founding Managing Director,  Grameen Shakti and First Zayed Future Energy Prize Winner  , my  mother ,  brother and I  are  doing    quite well   I have learnt to assemble invertors and components of  Solar Home Systems  from a 15 days training by  Grameen Technology Center .   

I came first in the my batch and was soon working at my home to assemble lampshade invertors .  I am earning up to Tk.  5000 ( US$ 80) , per month .  I have  assembled within the last four months over 2000  lampshade  invertors earning up to Tk. 15, 000 ( US$ 200 )  .

Before working here , we were poor ,and   we were forced to take many loans.  Now we are solvent ,  we have no debts and especially I can continue my studies  . 

 I am very grateful to Mr.  Barua   for  honouring me with the Zayed Future Energy Scholarship.  I hope to work harder  and earn more .

Sajeda Khatun   , Grameen Technology Center,   Rajshahi

“I come from a very poor family .  My husband is a rickshaw puller and we have two sons   .It  was  difficult to maintain our family  from the income of my husband.  

I started looking for a way out , when   I found out about  Grameen Technology to become a Solar Technician and soon started working .

At first , I could assemble 10-15 lampshade invertors and 5 mobile chargers , earning around Tk. 3000 ( US$ 45 ) per month.  Now ,  I can assemble 30-40 lampshade invertors or 15-20 mobile chargers per day  to earn around Tk.  9000 ( around US$ 130 ) per month .  I have assembled as of now ,  around 5000 lampshade invertors ,  315 mobile chargers and 100 Dc-DC converters .   

 My children are studying and I am helping my husband  to care of the family . Mr.  Dipal C.  Barua Founding Managing Director ,  Grameen Shakti and First Zayed Future Energy Prize Winner  has returned peace and prosperity to my family.          

It was wonderful to receive the Zayed Future Energy Scholarship.   I never thought that I could get the chance to  accept a certificate from Mr. Dipal Barua .  I want to work harder now.   It is my earnest wish to continue to work with renewable energy  and help  it to develop and prosper.  

I hope that Mr.  Barua  will provide jobs  for countless women like me and give them the opportunity to live with dignity and hope . “    

Salma Akhter ,   Grameen Technology Center, Laxampur     

“ My father  died when I was in grade five   .Despite many difficulties , I continued my education up to SSC   . After this ,  I was married off  , my husband had a small business    .  But , within two years our marriage , he was forced to close his business and became  unemployed    I had  to  look  for a job.

It was then I I heard about Grameen Technology   Center from a neighbour  .   I contacted the GrameenTechnologyCenter and took part in the  Women Technician Training .   I did well and came third in my batch .

  I soon started working  from June 2009  earning around Tk. 5000 (  around US$ 80 ) per month .    Within the last four months ,  I have earned around over Tk. 20, 000 (  US$ 300 )  by assembling around 7000 lampshade invertors  and 54 mobile chargers.  I have invested this fund to set up a shop with goods  for my husband .   I have a daughter  of 5 years old .  I wish to put her in school next year.

 It feels great to receive  the Zayed Future Energy  Scholarship .  I am very happy and hope that other women will get the opportunity which I did.   

 Tamisra Khatun ,  Grameen Technology Center ,   Homna    

“ I am very happy and proud  to be working as a Solar Technician .  I have learnt to assemble lamp shade invertors ,   mobile chargers and DC –DC converters  by taking part in a 15 days training program at our local GrameenTechnologyCenter   .   I am earning up to Tk 4000 (  around US$ 57 )  per month.  

We are a family of six with three brothers and three sisters . It is difficult for my father to manage our large family with his income .   It was hard  to continue my education .  Now, I can bear the cost of my education as well as help my brothers and sisters to continue their education.

Many of our neigbours are also interested to work like me .  I am very happy with my work . I have become independent and I am ever grateful to Mr. Dipal Chandra Barua, Founding   Managing Director and Zayed Future Energy Prize Winner.

 It is wonderful to know that I have been selected for the Zayed Future Energy Scholarship .  This is very inspiring and I will use the scholarship money to buy tools and equipment. “       

Shilpi  Rani Das ,  Grameen Technology Center ,  Comilla     

I come from a poor family .  I felt  depressed ,  useless  and a burden to my family as  I could not help them . 

I participated in the 15 day training program at GrameenTechnologyCenter to learn how to    assemble lamp shade invertors ,   mobile chargers and DC –DC converters  .  Now I am earning up to Tk .  5000 ( around US$ 80 )  per month .   I am very happy because I can help my parents . I am also helping my sister to get educated .