In the world today, around one and a half billion people don't have access to electricity .
Being without electricity creates problems for education, medical care, businesses, and public safety.
Around thirty years ago, some EDF employees decided to use their skills as electricians to improve the situation, namely by bringing electricity to remote areas
I started working for EDF thirty years ago, and was immediately snatched up by the founders of the ESF, who asked me to take part in their first mission in Morocco.
From then on, I got more and more involved in the work of ESF
We currently have around a hundred and fifty ongoing projects in thirty-five different countries. We're lighting up schools and health centres, pumping water and making it drinkable, and trying to help as many small businesses get set up as possible.
The issue of sufficient training is vital. Often, you're starting from square one, using a training course the course to train up new electricians - new local entrepreneurs. Because without electricians, there's no electricity, let alone electrical systems built to last
The most important thing is to ensure that once we've left, the installations aren't ESF installations any more, but belong to the villages where we make these projects happen.
And the issue of skill sharing is also essential.
After a while, the villagers and those who benefit from the project must take over the operation of the installations. They must be able to understand the basic principles; why we made it like this, why we installed solar panels, why we put in batteries, etc.
So the current solution of being able to use videos really is a plus, because often the technicians are trained initially, but don't necessarily have the opportunity to immediately put into practice what they've learned
So being able to re-watch the videos on their phones and computers, or being able to download them from the Internet is a real bonus for making the installations last longer and for creating continuity between all electrical systems all over the world.
So, ESF aims not only to bring electricity to those who don't have any, but also to offer up its skills in the interests of international solidarity, and to give a great sense of meaning to this profession and it's skill- set, therefore creating a wonderful, human adventure serving global solidarity.
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