Fixim Sola, a new solar repair training course launched last month in Vanuatu’s Tafea Province, is giving local communities the tools, skills and confidence to manage solar waste, improve energy access and create new job opportunities.
Launched in June, 48 participants from five islands, including 18 women and four people with disabilities, took part in two weeks of hands-on learning led by the University of New South Wales in partnership with the Vanuatu Disability Promotion Advocacy Association, Vanuatu Institute of Technology, University of the South Pacific and the Vanuatu Department of Energy.
Jocelyn Iaioha, a single mother from South West Tanna, hopes the skills she gained will help launch a new career. “I’m hoping to become an entrepreneur and start a business in solar system operations to earn money. It is hard, but I believe and trust in myself that I can do it. If I can do it, other women can too - and I will be a role model for my daughter.”
Roy Daniel, a police officer who maintains the emergency radio system for Tafea Province, also took part. “Fixim Sola is very important because many people across Tafea have solar systems. It’s important for us to have the knowledge and tools to fix them properly.”
Hear from participants about what the training meant to them.
The training is part of a larger initiative to tackle solar e-waste in off-grid communities and support the creation of local repair and recycling systems. In August, trained participants will take part in planning sessions to set up community repair hubs, lead local repair days, raise awareness about maintenance and cyclone preparedness, and share their new skills with others.
A school-based program will also begin in September at Lini Memorial High School on Pentecost Island, helping young people understand solar technology and develop practical skills for the future.
The Fixim Sola course is one part of a broader solar panel recycling and reuse program in Vanuatu, supported by the Australian Government. Over time, the program is expected to benefit more than 55,000 people.
Since 2024, Australia has invested around AUD 5 million in off-grid renewable energy projects in Vanuatu through the Off-Grid Renewable Energy Partnerships, a pilot program under REnew Pacific. The partnership is supported through the Pacific Climate Infrastructure Financing Partnership (PCIFP), a $350 million Australian Government initiative delivered by the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP).
Learn more about the partnership: Harnessing the circular economy to tackle solar e-waste in Vanuatu.
The solar repair training course launched last month in Vanuatu’s Tafea Province involved 48 participants from five islands