Vivant-led solar project bags green, CSR awards

MANILA, Philippines — A project that energized 16 off-grid schools and provided livelihood to 12 women’s organizations recently bagged two national awards, one for promoting clean energy and the other for fostering quality education.

The European Chamber of Commerce awarded the Europa Awards 2022 for Clean and Green Energy to Project Renewable Energy for Livelihood and Youth (RELY), which installed solar energy that now powers 16 off-grid and remote schools in Cebu, Bohol and Palawan.

Project RELY has also been named Outstanding CSR (corporate social responsibility) Project in Education during the 2022 CSR Guild Awards of the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF).

RELY is a European Union-funded project implemented by sequa gGmbH, Vivant Foundation and Process-Bohol. The project was nominated to both awards by Vivant Foundation, which implemented the solar energization component and the upgrading of the tech-voc education of five senior high schools in Cebu, Bohol and Palawan.

“We’re very proud of our accomplishments that recognize the project’s impact in more than one field, with one award for renewable energy and another for education, as we feel the strength of the project is that it doesn’t just address one issue.” said Vivant Foundation executive director Shem Jose Garcia.

The Europa Award for Clean and Green Energy is awarded to a company or undertaking that has helped the Philippines achieve its greenhouse reduction targets by promoting clean energy.

The LCF CSR Guild Award recognizes Project RELY’s contribution to improving education by installing solar energy in off-grid and remote schools that not only makes classrooms conducive for learning, but also allows students access to essential learning tools like computers.

With the completion of Project RELY, Vivant Foundation continues to replicate its pilot off-grid solar energization project in Coron, Palawan, and aims to extend the project to one school annually.  Named Project Liadlaw, the pilot combines solar energization and the upgrading of the Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM) track of a nearby senior high school to ensure proper maintenance and repair of the PV installation. The EIM upgrade establishes a pool of students who will maintain the solar installation as part of their practical training.

Garcia said the combination of solar energization and EIM upgrading ensures the sustainability of the PV installation. “We designed the project to be forward-looking, not only for the off-grid school but for students of the upgraded EIM who will graduate with knowledge and skills that are needed in the future of energy,” he said.