Laurie Guevara-Stone
By Laurie Guevara-Stone, Solar Energy International’s International Program Manager
This entry was originally posted on the Solar Energy International Blog on March 19, 2012.
Solar Energy International and WE CARE Solar are teaming up to train a group of women to be Solar Suitcase Ambassadors. Solar Suitcase Ambassadors will take a leadership role in solar suitcase installations and solar trainings in developing countries.
Solar Suitcase Training
More than 350,000 women die each year from pregnancy complications, and millions of infants are stillborn or die in the first days of life, primarily in regions with insufficient energy resources for conducting basic obstetric care. The award-winning WE CARE Solar Suitcase is an economical, easy-to-use portable power unit that provides health workers with highly efficient medical lighting and power for mobile communication, computers and medical devices.
Women who are interested in volunteering their time overseas to help improve maternal health care around the world will be accepted to the program through a stringent selection process. We are seeking women from diverse regions including United States, Africa, and Haiti. Women who commit to taking a leadership role as Solar Suitcase Ambassadors will receive a highly subsidized six-week online course on solar electricity, and then a one week in-person training in Berkeley, California, on the design, use and installation of the solar suitcase, international maternal health issues, and how to instruct the health care workers in the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of the systems. Women from technical backgrounds and with experience in health care are encouraged to apply.
For more information, download the Solar Suitcase Ambassador brochure. To apply, please e-mail Laurie Guevara-Stone here.
As a midwife with strong family, personal and professional ties to Burkina Faso, I am very interested in your solar suitcase project. I would love to help in bringing this technology to Francophone Africa. I have experience as a teacher/trainer and an English/French translator. Please contact me.
This is a very important project for saving mother’s and babies’ lives in resource poor countries. Thank you for your work!
– - Maggie
i have a strong background in d.c.and batteries and repair of this type of equip.My wife and i are in our early eighties and in excellant health. if you are interested in a hard working team,please let us know. we saw a tv segment about your wonderful program and i know that we would be a good fit. we leave florida in a few weeks for new jersey. i’m sure that you have questions and we have some also. please call 239-368-0833. after may 15, call 973-667-7734. we have been volunteering since i left the navy in 1955 and have lengthy resumies.