De Aar Solar Power has chosen to focus its community development projects on local schools in De Aar. This is in addition to the community projects that will be implemented within the local communities during the Project’s 20 years of operations. These projects will be located within a 50km radius of the solar farm, with 80% of the allocated budget being focused on education support.
The Programmes will focus on early childhood development, as part of a crèche support programme, numeracy and literacy interventions at a primary level; support for mathematics and science programmes at secondary schooling level and a Scholarship programme for engineering related studies at tertiary level. “Renewable energy generation aims to positively impact both the environment and just as importantly on local communities,” said Mark Pickering, General Manager of De Aar Solar Power.
Over the last four months, De Aar Solar Power has invested a total budget of R800 000 on three local schools, namely De Aar High School, De Aar JPS School, and Monwabisi Secondary School. The schools were provided donations of the following: books, reading programmes, administrative and computer equipment, security fencing, and even an internal refurbishment of one of the school kitchen programmes.
“Education starts at our local schools. By investing in education we can help ensure that communities are developed upon solid foundations and ultimately help our country and its people to prosper,” added Pickering.
During the twenty year operation period of the solar plant, De Aar Solar Power will spend a percentage of operational revenues on socio economic and enterprise development programmes.
