Green Empowerment

On Wednesday morning following the results of the US-election, our Executive Director, Andrea Johnson, sent this email to our board, staff and associate board and we want to share it with our global community as remain steadfast in our work and vision for a more equitable world:

Imagine life after 8 PM with no power—that’s the reality for Pitas Laut, where diesel generators provide just 4 hours of electricity daily, costing up to 40% of household income. But change is coming! ⚡🌱 The Suluk fishing community, with Green Empowerment, Tonibung CREATE Borneo and Forever Sabah Berhad, is building a 40kWp solar mini-grid to power homes and fuel economic growth. Community-led. Renewable. Transformative. Support solutions like this today: https://lnkd.in/gk_afSgz A huge thank you to our partner Seacology for making this possible. #RenewableEnergy #CleanPower #CommunityDevelopment #SolarSolutions #EnergyAccess #SustainableLiving #EmpowerChange 📷: Photos taken during an installation at Kg. Terian. Kg. Pitas Laut's solar mini-grid will be installed and operational by Spring 2025.

Meet Fauziah Binti Pullah, one of the incredible women of Pitas Laut, Malaysia—a small Indigenous community leading the way in turtle conservation! 🐢💪 From building a turtle hatchery using YouTube tutorials to releasing over 300 hatchlings into the ocean, their passion for protecting endangered turtles and their mangrove ecosystem is inspiring. Learn how reliable access to electricity supports their efforts: https://lnkd.in/gk_afSgz A huge thank you to our partners Tonibung CREATE Borneo, Forever Sabah Berhad, and Seacology for making this possible. #WomenInConservation #ProtectOurPlanet #Biodiversity #TurtleConservation #IndigenousCommunities #MangroveRestoration #EcoLeadership

💚 As we embrace the holiday spirit, we want to share a heartwarming story of community and conservation from Pitas Laut: 🎥 https://lnkd.in/gsACYA_t Thank you to our partners Seacology, Tonibung CREATE Borneo, and Forever Sabah Berhad.

While you cook meals and warm up indoors this holiday season, we encourage you to take a moment to appreciate the access to electricity. Electricity is a cornerstone for a healthy life and economic opportunity.💡 Pitas Laut, a small indigenous fishing village in Malaysian Borneo, has big dreams. With reliable electricity, fishermen can store their catches to sell in the city, women can start businesses, and the community can continue to support conservation efforts. This holiday season, give the gift of clean energy: https://lnkd.in/gk_afSgz A huge thank you to our partners Seacology, Tonibung CREATE Borneo and Forever Sabah Berhad for making this possible. #ProtectOurPlanet #Malaysia #IndigenousWisdom #CleanEnergy #SolarPower #SustainableLiving #CommunityResilience

A human-centered approach to evaluating water insecurity? 🤝🚰 At Green Empowerment we have been working with UNICEF Ecuador, Dr. Gwyneth Lee of Rutgers University, and our partners in Ecuador to implement the HWISE scale (Household Water Insecurity Experiences scale) #WISELAC tool in remote communities. Households answer 4 - 12 questions about their experience accessing water, then this data is analyzed to create a water insecurity score. People’s own perceptions of how they interact with water is the primary data. Our Water & Sanitation Lead, Samuel Schlesinger, presented our initial findings at the #UNCWaterConference. Check out his presentation here (@53:55) 🎥➡️ https://lnkd.in/gT4FnR5p -- For more context watch from minute 45:20 for an accompanying presentation from UNICEF Ecuador. Stay tuned for more updates on how we are implementing HWISE in the new year!

Remember the 2021 project we did with Energía, Ambiente y Sostenibilidad in Bretaña, Peruvian Amazon, for the production of ice? 🧊 They've taken a new step and created a brand, King Bretaña! Which sells processed paiche (a large regional fish) products like nuggets, chorizos, & medallions in specialized markets. Check out the press release 👉 https://lnkd.in/gwQSFVnU The energy for the production of these products is being generated by the photovoltaic system that Green Empowerment and our local partner Energía, Ambiente, y Sostenibilidad supported back in 2021 for the production of ice (31kw). The women run ice business is going strong and they are planning to expand the solar array to accommodate the new brand.

Exciting news from Valle de Angeles, Honduras: our drinking water project is nearing completion! 🚰 The local community has come together with #ASOMAINCUPACO and Meal-a-Day to build a sustainable water system that will soon serve about 740 people. The dedication and teamwork of everyone involved is truly inspiring—stay tuned for more updates! #CleanWater #Honduras #CommunityLedDevelopment

Check out this inspiring video made by the Pitas Laut community, showcasing their journey toward protecting a critical 45-acre marine turtle nesting habitat! 🐢💚 With the support of local partners, this community has: ✅ Signed a commitment to conservation as part of their funding agreement. ✅ Collaborated on energy planning and site analysis to design a sustainable solar energy system. ✅ Devised an innovative plan to transport solar panels and build a floating jetty for their village. Installation kicks off in early 2025! TRIPLE your impact today! All donations of $250 or more will be double matched, but only for a limited time. Let’s empower communities like Pitas Laut to protect our planet and inspire us all. ➡️ https://lnkd.in/gk_afSgz 🎥 https://lnkd.in/gsACYA_t #IndigenousLeadership #Conservation #RenewableEnergy #ProtectBiodiversity #EmpowerCommunities #SolarEnergy #PitasLaut #ClimateAction | Tonibung CREATE Borneo; Forever Sabah Berhad; Seacology

Exciting progress on our solar mini-grid project in Pitas Laut! 🌞 A huge thank you to EKOenergy ecolabel, TObpinai NIngkokoton koBUruon kampuNG - TONIBUNG, Forever Sabah Berhad, and donors like you, this wouldn’t be possible without you.