During my previous field assignment, I worked with Pekka to train the Pekka members (who are all women heads of households) on the proper usage, maintenance, repair, and warranty system of the technologies they had purchased from Kopernik. These technologies (Nazava water filters, UB.03-1 Biomass Stoves and d.light solar lights) were distributed through Pekka with installment payment systems at both partial subsidy and full price payments to enable the women afford the technologies. Recently I came back again to Flores. Apart from socializing new technology products and preparing for tech agents program, I have also been asked by Pekka members and community members to deliver the same trainings as I had done before.

However, I think it was time for the Pekka leaders to deliver the training and share their knowledge they had gained from me. This way they would be empowered and their knowledge on the technology would increase. In addition, delivering training in their local language would help the women and community members understand more about the technologies.  And it happened. Pekka leaders delivered the training and socialized new technology products to Pekka members and community members during the monthly cooperative meeting. During the monthly meeting, the women usually do their regular saving and loan transactions and other cooperative errands. During the meeting, the women also share their experience and knowledge about the technologies within their group and this has been a good way to keep the women reminded of how to properly use or maintain the technologies.

One of Pekka leaders was explaining the warranty system of the Nazava water filter

One of the Pekka leaders who delivered the training during a cooperative meeting says: "It is useful for us to share within our group the benefits and the knowledge of the technologies. I have attended a training before and by delivering a training to other women makes me know more about the technologies and realize that these technologies could make our lives better”.

Conducting a training in a small group has helped these women better understand how to properly use the UB.03-1 Biomass Stove

 

All photos by Imanta Kasih Sembiring