20 families in the mountain village of Labidjay receive solar cookers and lighting systems

2025-10-21 11:11

The environmental organization the Little Earth continues to equip residents of remote settlements in Tajikistan with resource-saving technologies.

Last weekend, 20 sets of modern energy equipment were handed over to families in the village of Labidjay. The event was held as part of a joint initiative by the Little Earth and the German organization SunHelp International.

Each of the 20 selected families received a kit, which included:

A solar parabolic cooker for preparing food and heating water.
A solar home lighting system, comprising a solar panel and 4 tubular LED lamps.

The village lacks access to the central power grid. For lighting their homes, the residents of Labidjay have to rely on micro-hydropower plants, generators, or candles and kerosene lamps, while for heating and cooking, they must collect firewood or dried dung. The new equipment will provide them with an eco-friendly and economical alternative.

"The introduction of solar lighting systems will provide local residents with an autonomous source of light, enabling them to use the dark hours more productively and increasing overall safety levels. Solar cookers, in turn, represent an effective alternative for cooking, as they operate without smoke and use exclusively solar radiation," says Timur Idrisov, the initiator of the project.

During the handover, staff from the Little Earth not only provided the devices to the residents but also clearly demonstrated their assembly and operation, and answered all questions.

The use of this equipment will have a direct positive impact on the lives of approximately 90 people and the local ecosystem: the reduced consumption of firewood and coal will lead to decreased deforestation, and the reduction of harmful indoor smoke will improve residents' health. Furthermore, families will save money by spending less on traditional energy sources, and the overall reduction in anthropogenic pressure will contribute to the preservation of biodiversity in the Karatag Gorge.

Facts about Labidjay Village
Labidjay village is located in the Karatag Gorge, less than 90 km west of Dushanbe, at an altitude of 1800 meters above sea level. It was previously used as a summer settlement, but in recent years, people have been living here permanently. There are a total of 54 households in the village, with a population of 170 people.