By: Luminita Cuna
This project is coordinated by Village Earth Global Affiliate “Maloca Communities“. Please donate above, if you would like to support this project.
SUMMARY
The Kamayura indigenous village in Xingu Indigenous Park, Brazil, needs a solar panel kit.
In the past year, deforestation and wildfires led to habitat loss for many animals around and inside Xingu Indigenous Park. As a consequence, it appears that the number of jaguars in the reserve increased. Last year, two indigenous people were killed by jaguars in the proximity of their homes: a Kamayura woman and a Waura man Other attacks took place in and around the Kamayura village. The jaguars, a protected species, have become a life threatening element for the indigenous peoples living in Xingu. The people are afraid to go out after dark (it gets dark at 7pm), and they fear for their children’s lives.
SOLUTION
The Kamaiura chief wants to place lightbulbs behind every house of the village, to illuminate the area and thus to keep the jaguars away and ensure the relative safety of the people when it is dark.
Xingu is a perfect location for solar panels, as the area gets a lot of sunny days.
LONG TERM IMPACT
The solar panels will provide clean and free energy during the day to charge the community radio and satellite phone (vital communication instruments with the outside world), the school computer, and a small machine that helps children breathe during asthma attacks (caused by the smoke from fires in the houses).
The money will cover the expenses of transporting the kit to the village, which include custom taxes, and transport from Brasilia to the village by bus, truck and boat.
Solar panels can provide a cheap, environment-friendly solution to several problems of the village. Most of all, ensuring the safety of its inhabitants.
