San Jose, Belize – A pioneering solar energy initiative has fundamentally transformed the educational and community landscape in the remote village of San Jose, Toledo. Through a strategic partnership between the Ya’axché Conservation Trust and the European Union, the San Jose RC School has been equipped with a robust hybrid solar power system, providing reliable electricity to its classrooms and a newly established resource center.

The project, which commenced with extensive community engagement, ingeniously repurposed photovoltaic panels from an existing, defunct mini-grid on the school grounds. Funds were then strategically redirected to acquire a high-capacity battery bank and an upgraded inverter, ensuring consistent power supply. This integrated system now electrifies every classroom with energy-efficient LED lighting and power outlets, while also powering a dedicated resource center furnished with six laptops donated by the European Union, available for both student and community use.

Midonio Cal, Principal of San Jose RC Primary School, emphasized the profound impact on learning. “We want to ensure our students are technologically advanced. Teachers and students are now utilizing hands-on, visual activities in the classroom, incorporating solar energy directly into their learning process,” Cal stated, highlighting how students now use personal devices for presentations, fostering future leadership skills. The school’s computer lab, dubbed the “San Jose Resource Centre,” has become a vibrant hub for digital literacy.

Miriam Choc, a certified solar engineer and co-owner of Belize Power Connect Limited, oversaw the system’s installation. Choc, one of three indigenous Maya women trained in India through a Plenty Belize initiative, underscored the critical importance of this access. “This village lacked electricity. Now, with solar, students and teachers have power for computers, lights, and charging devices. It is incredibly useful,” she noted. Students in Standards 4, 5, and 6 now regularly attend IT classes, engaging in online research, typing practice, and digital storytelling, activities previously impossible.

Beyond academic hours, the resource center extends its benefits to the wider community. Local residents, including young mothers, access digital resources for crop management techniques, while elders connect with relatives abroad via video calls. Artisans collaborate on digital designs to market their crafts, underscoring the project’s ethos that infrastructure serves as a bridge to opportunity for all, including women, youth, and indigenous populations.

This pilot initiative aligns with the European Union’s broader Global Gateway strategy, which prioritizes investments in clean and just energy transitions globally, aiming to bridge energy access gaps in partner countries. In Belize, the EU’s support extends to training energy sector professionals, enhancing governance, deploying electric buses, and expanding energy access in underserved rural areas. The San Jose project exemplifies how community agency, combined with international support, is pivotal for inclusive and sustainable development.