A Chinese firm, Sunflower Solar Technologies, has partnered with people with disabilities to implement solar cooking projects in Zimbabwe.
The empowerment project, which is being fronted by high school students from China as part of the Education 5.0 Model implementation, uses solar cookers, which are well-suited for the country’s climatic conditions, as they help to reduce deforestation in the country.
The team says it has targeted people with disabilities in the initial phase as they often find it difficult to meet the power needs, among other essentials needed in harnessing energy.
“When I visited my father, who was working here in 2024, I realised that most people were relying on electricity and firewood as a source of energy. I then teamed up with my colleagues to come up with this project, which could be a lasting solution to the needs of the country. We want to make sure that people with disabilities are well-equipped with the skills to assemble the cookers and make some money in the process. Now, we can produce at least 100 cookers a month, and we hope to increase,” Sunflower Solar Technologies’ director, Mr Feihan Li said.
The project is a step in the right direction for people with disabilities who are already anticipating some favourable returns that could transform their lives.
“I was finding it difficult to use alternative sources of energy. With power being a problem due to load shedding, the alternative was gas, but I was afraid as gas is generally dangerous. I want to thank the young men and our Senator for facilitating this donation,” a beneficiary stated
“I am very grateful for this initiative, I have been given a critical tool and more importantly a skill that could change my live. Since some of these products will need to be assembled, I now have the requisite skill to assemble them and this is a source of empowerment to help me in my day-to-day life,” another added
“I have come to represent an organisation taking care of people with mental health issues. Being given such products means we have dealt with the power problems at the institution. Power is a critical resource that we need in our everyday lives,” a beneficiary noted.
A representative of people with disabilities, Senator Annah Shiri, says the initiative by the students from China is a result of the strong bilateral relations between Harare and Beijing.
“What we are witnessing today is a result of years of cooperation between the People’s Republic of China and Zimbabwe. The need for alternative energy is critical in the face of climate change. What we need as a country is to engage these youngsters so that we can exchange critical knowledge on how to produce such products. If these students can do it, we can also do it through our own Education 5.0 model. I will be negotiating with the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education Innovation and Science Development, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to see to it that we can tap on such knowledge and use it to our own advantage.”
The Second Republic has intensified the adoption of alternative energy, with US$24 million being availed under the Renewable Energy Fund late last year, hence, such collaborations will see the country achieving its renewable energy targets.
