The Little Earth, with the support of the Youth4Climate initiative, has officially transitioned to the next stage of the "Decentralised Energy Solutions for Women’s Empowerment" project. Following a series of educational workshops on climate change and leadership, the project has moved from theory to practice by equipping 20 women in the remote mountain villages of Sayod and Hilmaghz with 20 sets of solar and energy-efficient equipment from December 2 to December 4.
In these high-altitude settlements of the Romit district, women bear the primary responsibility for household energy management. As climate change makes winters harsher and reduces forest resources, the daily task of gathering firewood has become an increasingly heavy physical and environmental burden. The distribution of these 20 sets of green technologies aims to improve women’s livelihood while protecting the local ecosystem.
Each of the 20 selected women received a comprehensive energy kit designed to improve health, safety, and daily living conditions:
Solar Parabolic Cookers: A sustainable alternative for cooking and heating water that operates without smoke, reducing the need for firewood and improving respiratory health.
Solar Lighting Systems: Providing reliable, autonomous electricity for evening studies and household tasks, replacing hazardous kerosene lamps and candles.
Solar Shower Bags: A highly effective solution for improving household hygiene, providing families with easy access to sun-heated water and significantly increasing daily comfort.
Solar Parabolic Cookers: A sustainable alternative for cooking and heating water that operates without smoke, reducing the need for firewood and improving respiratory health.
Solar Lighting Systems: Providing reliable, autonomous electricity for evening studies and household tasks, replacing hazardous kerosene lamps and candles.
Solar Shower Bags: A highly effective solution for improving household hygiene, providing families with easy access to sun-heated water and significantly increasing daily comfort.
"We are very thankful, as now we are aware of such equipment that can cook using solar power," shared one of the participants. "By using these tools, we will save both our natural resources and our time."
The distribution follows two successful training phases conducted earlier this year. In October, participants learned the science of climate change, and in November, they focused on gender equality and leadership. This equipment handover represents the final journey, by transforming the concept of sustainable energy from a general idea into a practical tool for daily use empowerment.
During the handover, the Little Earth team provided hands-on demonstrations, ensuring each recipient could confidently assemble and maintain their new devices. By transitioning to these decentralised energy solutions, the families in Sayod and Hilmaghz are not only saving money on traditional fuels but are also contributing to the sustainable development of remote mountain communities in Tajikistan. The project will be concluded by the round table that will gather all the beneficiaries and local authorities to discuss the project's results and allow women to voice their vision for ditrict development.
Youth4Climate is an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Italian Ministry of Environment and Energy Security. More information about the initiative can be found here.