They can’t read or write but a couple of brave Bedouin women from Jordan travelled far and wide to help their villages become solar powered. The biggest struggle yet may be with their husbands: We’ve covered this hopeful story of Solar Mamas, Bedouin women from Jordan who went to Barefoot College to learn how to solar power their villages. We’ve interviewed the women from solar mamas, and have reviewed the film Solar Mamas, a documentary movie about their journey.

We’ve even covered their plight as these women face pressures in their village from this “wild idea.”

Not long ago Green Prophet was invited to a Skoll Foundation Conference in the UK. Our resident blogger and documentary filmmaker James met the director of Solar Mamas, the film, and was compelled to review the film for us once again.

Here’s his take on the movie Solar Mamas, and why you should watch it:

As readers of Green Prophet know, I’ve spent a fair amount of time amongst the Bedouin population of the Negev Desert in Israel, exploring various cultural and sociological issues that affect their society, and watching various solar initiatives either developed from within, or as Bedouin-Israeli co-operation projects.

I filmed this story in the Negev Bedouin village of  Um Batin where the gift of solar technology has enabled a father to have medical equipment that will greatly enhance the life of a very sick child:

[youtube width=”660″ height=”453″]http://youtu.be/4guNBWOvnRw[/youtube]

I was excited to hear about a new documentary film about a solar initiative with the Jordanian Bedouin population, and met the director, Egyptian-American Mona Eldaief in Oxford recently at the Skoll Foundation Conference.

The Skoll Foundation, a leading social entrepreneurs network, work in partnership with the American Sundance Institute, supporting their ‘Stories for Change’ programme, which films inspiring social change happening around the world. The organization also funds great social programs like those done by Friends of the Earth Middle East in Israel, Jordan and Palestine.

Mona’s film, ‘Solar Mamas’ follows such a project and its many trials and tribulations within the Jordanian Bedouin village of Rawat Bandan, and focuses upon Rafea, the solar mama of the title, and her family.

It is fair to say that much of the film focuses on tension between Rafea and her husband, which represent the wider issues prevalent within the Bedouin community, both in Jordan and in the Negev; the clash between traditional male power within the home and community, and a growing sense of women’s empowerment, through education and employment. Having the husband and wife as antagonist and protagonist at the core of the documentary make for an absorbing film.

Somewhat in the middle of this is the Government, and the film’s ‘fixer’ character is Raouf Dabbas from the Environment Ministry, who seems to be in a constant state of exasperation, negotiating between husbands and wives and broking power deals within family units, as well as arranging the contact with the Indian school, and bringing its founder, Bunker Roy, to Jordan. In early scenes, we see some of the pioneering work Roy has done around the world within rural communities, which gives context to the project being initiated in Jordan.

From my studies in the Negev Desert, given that the Bedouin are such a traditional culture, these changes are happening so fast the sparks flare up time and time again, as the older male custodians find their authority eroded and both women and the younger generations embrace the opportunities that the new values that a modern lifestyle will bring, like cars instead of camels, solar panels instead of firewood and gas.

The first shot of the film shows Rafea emerge from the family tent, then clearing scrub wood in the desert for fire. It is a really powerful scene, with her saying in voiceover: “my life is the same routine.”

We see her devotion to her children, her rootedness in her place and her culture, but also that she has a yearning for something else – change, travel, education, greater wealth etc, and a Government Initiative brings the head of the Barefoot College to her village to talk about the education and training offered at the School in India.

This is where Rafea and others from the village do eventually go and study, and learn how to put together the components for solar energy and create a simple set-up, but for Rafea the journey, and subsequent journeys backwards and forwards between her village and the college in India bring up so many inter-personal struggles for her, she becomes a martyr for struggle and change within her community.

A key scene shows Rafea in her tent discussing her feelings with other women, as the call of the Muezzin sounds outside: “I want to explore the world and I want to learn,” Rafea says, to be met with the response: “we understand but the situation is hopeless.”

Rafea’s husband is the key sticking point in all of this. He feels her place is in the home, with the children and the routine of the household. He is shown numerous times lying down, it is implied he is lazy and his role as provider is questioned, and when Raouf Dabbas visits and calls he smiles and says he does understand the situation and wants there to be change – but at his stubborn pace!

Like many relationships across many cultures, how one person is able to fulfil their own urge for change, travel and advancement, within the bounds of their own personal circumstances, is a key tension, and as most of us will experience this – with all the pain of break-ups and disagreements, it is fascinating to watch and experience it (within the manipulated structure shown to us through the edit process of this film) here.

I felt while watching that the story of bringing solar technology to a small and remote desert village, is almost peripheral – the actual catalyst of change could actually be anything. The shots of the women in India in the classroom learning the technology and passing their exams are great to watch and funny too, providing relief and inspiration in contrast to the trauma that Rafea is going through. Then finally when the shipment of equipment actually arrives, is assembled and there is the final “let there be light, Hamidullah (praise be to God)” moment, brings the arc of the story to completion. There is a final twist with Rafae’s husband, which I won’t reveal here.

‘Solar Mamas” is an important film that takes the viewer right to the heart of a remote Bedouin village and the central issues of tradition and change faced by one family.

I resonated deeply with the story as I’ve experienced it first hand in the Negev, and as a Western anthropologist coming in to study and experience the life of Bedouin culture, know that the weight of expectation placed upon the Bedouin to embrace alien opportunities and technologies is huge (read the story about Arava Power and the Bedouin here). Managing expectation and change is key.  However, you don’t need to have been to these communities to get a lot from the film. It deals with very real human emotions, and takes the viewer on a journey of discovery and inspiration, with very real benefits to a society without many amenities that we take for granted. It charts a very real solar harnessing and transformation project in the deep desert.

WATCH SOLAR MAMAS BY CLICKING BELOW

[youtube width=”660″ height=”490″]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON_NQ1HnRYs[/youtube]

The post Solar Mamas Shows Sustainable Engineering for Bedouin Women (Film Review) appeared first on Green Prophet.

In no particular order:

1. Senad Hadzic. The Bosnian man (above) who walked 3,600 miles and crossed six borders over 314 days to get to Mekkah in time for Hajj. Putting aside the agonising blisters, seriously cold European weather and having to slum it for almost a year, this actually sounds like a lot of fun… wait a minute. Yep, you got to hand it to Senad Hadzic for the dedication.

2. Water Portraits by photographer Peter Holmes in which he basically dumps the amount of water a person uses in an hour on them based on the national rates of water use. And all in the name of water conservation too. The Moroccan guy above got splashed with 4.5 litres which is actually nothing compared to the literally eye-watering 32 litres the average person from California uses. There were however no second takes which I am sure the subjects appreciated!

3. Rafea – Solar Mama.  An award-winning documentary has being made about the inspiring  woman from Jordan who travelled to India to learn to become a solar engineer. Back in 2011, I spoke to Rafea Abdul Hamid who is the focus of the film, so you may recall that she is in fact still struggling to establish solar power in her village. But you can help by donating via the Barefoot College website. Seriously, you have to consider it for an Xmas present or an new year’s gift (‘cos they really do exist), or maybe for someone’s  birthday…

4. Easkey Britton, a surfing champion and passionate environmentalist, became the first women to surf the Iranian waves. That’s all you need to know.

5. Muslim Beekeepers Start Project in London Mosque. When Kingston mosque in London introduced between 10,000 and 15,000 bees onto its premises last summer, the congregation was naturally quite concerned. Would it be safe? Would bee swarms gather at the mosque? Would it be dangerous for children? However, once local beekeeper Munir Ravalia explained that the beehive wouldn’t be a health and safety risk on the roof, they were pretty eager to find out more…

My top five shout out also goes to some truly inspiring people including: Mario Cucinella and all those working on Gaza’s green schools, the newly formed Arab Youth Climate Movement, the award-winning Iraqi mud architect Selma Samar Damluji, the Jordanian campaigners who worked to stop nuclear power and also Comet-ME for all their hard work under very difficult circumstances. Keep your heads held high.

The post 5 Inspiring Green Prophet Stories and People Of 2012 appeared first on Green Prophet.

‘Rafea – Solar Mama’ marks a young mother’s battle to bring solar power to her village in the deserts of Jordan

Green films have been making a real splash across the region right now. From Eco Qatari folktales about drought to hard-hitting documentaries about trash in Turkey, environmentally-aware movies have been on the up. Now, an award-winning documentary has being made about an inspiring young woman from Jordan who travelled to India to learn to become a solar engineer. Back in 2011, we spoke to Rafea Abdul Hamid who is the focus of the film, so you may recall that she is in fact still struggling to establish solar power in her village. The Doha Tribeca Film Festival will be showcasing the documentary called ‘Rafea- Solar Mama’ over the next couple of days as part of its MENA premiere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGMgHZ1WzxA

Jehane Noujaim and Mona Eldaief, who are the directors, explain that they began this film project by following three women from across the globe on their journey to become solar engineers and chose to focus on Rafea. They were surprised at the real obstacles that she faced as well as the intervention of her husband which forced her to return to Jordan half way through her training. Luckily Rafea was able to return and complete her training as a solar engineer although her new found confidence and skills still makes the elders of her village uneasy.

“We’ve been taught about solar energy and solar panels and how to generate light,” explained Rafi’a Abdul Hamid to me over a year ago. “Hopefully when we return we will be able to teach others and use everything we’ve learnt here in India to improve our village.” That, however, has been a bit more complicated. Back in March 2012, Raouf Dabbas, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Environment in Jordan informed me that the solar project was still awaiting donor assistance. A limited amount of solar panels had been successfully assembled by the women in three homes in the village but more substantial support was needed.

According to the Jordan Times, renewable energy currently contributes less than 1 per cent of Jordan’s energy mix. And yet the Kingdom has significant amounts of untapped wind and solar energy, with wind speeds as high as 7.5 metres per second, up to 11.5 metres per second in hilly areas, and direct solar radiation equalling 5.5 kilowatt hours per square metre per day.

For more on eco films in the region see:

‘Rain’ and Qatari Folktales of Nature

Green Abu Dhabi Film Festival Raises Ecological Awareness

Help Make Palestinian Filmmaker’s Eco-Documentary A Reality

The post ‘Solar Mamas’ – A Film About Jordan’s Solar Energy Women appeared first on Green Prophet.

One year after they were trained as solar engineers, two illiterate women from Jordan are still waiting for funding to connect their villages to solar power

“I have no doubt that we are going to achieve a lot. I’m hoping that my life and that of my village will change forever.” Those were the words of Raf’ia Abdul Hamid exactly one year ago. At the time Rafi’a, a mother of four, was finishing off a year-long course at the Barefoot College in India to qualify as a solar engineer. She was preparing to return to Jordan and was clearly excited about the prospect of bringing clean energy to her village.

Although she had come from a underprivileged background and was illiterate, could not afford services like research paper writing services she learnt how to setup and repair solar panels and was eager to apply her skills.

But one year on and little progress has been made.

Raouf Dabbas, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Environment in Jordan informed me that the solar project was still awaiting donor assistance. “We’ve tried UNDP/GEF where the local representative informed us that there were no funds available at the time. The Ministry of Planning in Jordan responsible for supporting small socio-economic projects also turned us down,” he said

“Our hopes now are focused on the Jordan Environment Protection Fund who have been presented with the 3 year technical capacity building proposal for the Rural Solar Electrification project. The Jordan Society for Sustainable Development NGO is following up the proposal closely with the Fund at this time. There is a 50-50 chance they will be successful.”

Dabbas was also eager to add that the Barefoot College in India, which trains illiterate women from all around world, has also offered some assistance to the ex-students. As well as searching for funding sources, they have provided the village with a limited amount of panels. These were successfully assembled by the women and there are now solar systems in three homes in the village.

“The Bedouin women have demonstrated that they possess the knowledge and experience to put the systems together,” remarked Dabbas. All they need now is the financial and administrative support to assembly solar panels on a large scale and also to train a new generation of female solar engineers.

I’ll keep readers updated on the Jordan Environment Protection Fund’s final decision.

The Barefoot college launched the solar power course for women in 2005 and already more than 150 grandmothers from 28 countries have been trained. Over 10,000 homes in 100 villages have been solar electrified which has saved 1.5 million litres of kerosene from polluting the atmosphere.

For more on Jordan see:

Barefoot College Bedouin Women Bring Solar Power To Jordan

Jordan’s Public Transport Plans Blocked By ‘Politics’

Jordanians Hold Vigil For Fukushima

The post Barefoot College Solar Project in Jordan Needs You! appeared first on Green Prophet.