Solar Electrification Project

Student volunteers with the Global Youth Service Team complete training to become solar energy technicians before embarking on a project. The GYST and the our partner organizations identify schools and medical clinics that are the most in need of solar electrification and a means for obtaining clean water. The schools in the communities located along the Thailand-Burma border region provide basic education as well as protection from the dangers of human trafficking, the abuse of child labor and a life on the street begging. Solar electricity in the schools and clinics means having:

• Adequate lighting
• The ability to read at night
• The ability to perform medical procedures at night
• Access to a computer
• Opportunity to develop evening adult education programs
• Improved health and safety conditions
• Eliminating the use of dangerous kerosene lamps and candles

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Many children attend schools without electrical power.	Caption	Caption
If a clinic has no source of electricity and there is a medical emergency at night, care is administered by candlelight and by flashlights.	Many children attend schools without electrical power.	Caption
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Since 2006 the Global Youth Service Team has been building solar-powered or photovoltaic (PV) electrical systems along the Thailand –Burma border.	Caption	Caption
PV systems also improve health and safety conditions and reduce dependency on the use of dangerous kerosene lamps and candles.	Caption	Caption
Caption	After GYST volunteers had completed a PV system at Ni Le Ah Tha, the teachers thanked us because they had been afraid that children might accidentally catch their mosquito nets on fire with their candles when going to bed at night.	Caption
The GYST has built PV systems for schools and medical care facilities located in refugee and migrant community areas.	Caption	We work with our locally based partners, Border Green Energy Team, Tak Border Children's Assistance Foundation and Tai Pei Overseas Peace Service.
PV systems have been built by GYST volunteers for schools in the villages of Pa Noi Pu, Dah La Okla, Maw Ta Lu, Ni Le Ah Tha and Mae Sot.	Caption	Caption
GYST volunteers also teach new owners how to monitor and troubleshoot their solar electric systems.	Caption	Caption
In 2007 the GYST built a PV system to supply power for lighting in a surgical treatment room at Mae Tao clinic.	Caption	In 2007 the GYST built a PV system to supply power for lighting in a surgical treatment room at Mae Tao clinic.
Caption	The system also serves as a training tool for medics who operate mobile bamboo clinics in eastern Burma.	Solar electricity in schools means adequate lighting and the ability to read at night, access to a computer and the opportunity to develop evening adult education programs.
Solar electricity in schools means adequate lighting and the ability to read at night, access to a computer and the opportunity to develop evening adult education programs.	PV systems also improve health and safety conditions and reduce dependency on the use of dangerous kerosene lamps and candles.	GYST volunteers teach the theory and maintenance of solar electric systems.
Caption	The schools often provide the only protection for children from the dangers of human trafficking, the abuse of child labor and a life on the street begging.	The GYST and BGET continually monitor the effectiveness of the systems we build and measure the results of the training we provide.
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