STORY: Solar-powered tablets jointly rolled out by Chinese, Kenyan firms empower locals in rural Kenya
DATELINE: July 7, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:07
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: SOCIETY

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the village
2. various of the tablets
3. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CALEB KIOKO, "Solar media" beneficiary
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): LI XIA, Founder and CEO of Shenzhen Solar Run Energy Co., Ltd.
5. SOUNDBITE 3 (Swahili): REHEMA YUSUF, "Solar media" beneficiary

STORYLINE:

A partnership between a Chinese solar company and a Kenyan enterprise has brought solar-powered tablets, or "solar media," to remote areas of Kenya that lack electricity.

The tablets are used to provide vocational training and information to marginalized communities, helping them improve their livelihoods.

The project, launched in September 2022, has already delivered 106 units of equipment in two phases to more than 200 families in Nthunguni village in southern Kenya.

One of the beneficiaries is Caleb Kioko, a student who learned skills through the Kenswed vocational training program that uses "solar media." He said the tablets have opened up new opportunities for him and his community.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): CALEB KIOKO, "Solar media" beneficiary
"We are studying with gadgets online, online students. I have been studying entrepreneurship and pastry dealing with baking and entrepreneurship. By now, I know how to bake many cakes; I know how to cook mandazi, doughnuts, half cakes; I know how to cook chapatti. I have been employed in a hotel and I know how to cook them. 'Solar media' provides more professional information."

The "solar media" gadgets provided by a Shenzhen-based company in south China's Guangdong Province come with preloaded content in education, agriculture, health, and skills development sectors.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): LI XIA, Founder and CEO of Shenzhen Solar Run Energy Co., Ltd.
"I hope I've created this solution to help you more empower yourself. So you will get more skills, even it's very simple for hairdressing, or how to do agriculture, or even how to nurse your baby a bit better. So I wish you best luck, and I wish you learn more. I wish to empower you more and you can change your life."

SOUNDBITE 3 (Swahili): REHEMA YUSUF, "Solar media" beneficiary
"We got introduced to this solar program last year in November. So I have learned a lot through the device. The course I chose was hairdressing. It has taught me how to do it, and this whole process has truly improved my life."

The third phase will be implemented in November 2023 and is expected to provide 200 pieces of equipment to more areas. The organizers expect the project to benefit more than 3,000 people this year and hope to work with more partners so that by 2024 and 2025, more local farmers in Kenya can benefit.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)