Irupana - From Cereal to Rural Electrification

Established in 1987, Irupana is a socially responsible small enterprise that manufactures certified organic food products sourced from subsistence farmers who would have little other market for their goods. In line with its commitment to the community, Irupana has recently set up Bartolina Sisa, a social fund that in effect separates Irupana’s social activities from its commercial ones. The fund’s first project, in partnership with Barefoot College, is an initiative to bring solar electrification to three rural communities in Bolivia.

In August 2006, three women were chosen by their communities, and sent by Bartolina Sisa to train in solar energy for six months in Tilonia, India. These women left Bolivia at the end of November, and in six months they, along with fourteen other rural women from The Gambia, Afghanistan, Sierra Leone, Mali and Cameroon, learned to assemble circuits and lamps, install solar units and check for and repair faults. It is expected that by October 2007, the rural electrification of the three Bolivian villages (Churubamba, Yacupampa and Soloja, a total of 110 houses) will be complete.

This project aims to improve the quality of life of rural people and farmers who supply Irupana with grain, while using renewable energy and empowering women. The key difference between this project and other solar energy projects is that women were trained to be Barefoot Solar engineers, so they have the capacity to maintain the equipment and thus ensure the project’s long-term sustainability. In particular, semi-literate, middle-aged women were chosen to show that technology can be simplified and taught to almost anybody, not just engineers. Additionally, these communities are being organized to form a fund for the purchasing of future repairs.