Our latest visit to Tanna Island, Vanuatu, for the Fixim Sola project focused on listening, learning, and following up with the newly trained solar repair technicians who are now putting their skills into practice.
Getting there was no small feat – with aircraft maintenance and limited flights, it took us 16 hours to reach Tanna. And while tough logistics meant that participants from Aneityum, Aniwa, and Erromango couldn’t join our follow‑up community action planning workshop, the time on the ground was invaluable.
The workshop gave us a clearer picture of the early impacts, challenges, and opportunities facing these technicians. It also reinforced the importance of ongoing support, from tools and spare parts to mentoring, to ensure that local repair of off‑grid solar systems becomes a sustainable, community‑driven service.
This visit also marked a special collaboration through the New Colombo Plan, where UNSW and VIT students worked alongside local technicians to conduct research and co‑develop multimedia educational toolkits. These resources are designed to boost solar literacy and help communities better understand and value the services of their local technicians.
Key insights from the trip:
- Collective strength: Supporting technicians in Area Councils across Tafea Province to form group businesses can build confidence and enable them to take on more complex installations and repair jobs.
- Deeper training needs: There is strong demand for follow‑up training, including advanced repair skills and coverage of key appliances such as deep freezers — vital for fishing communities.
- Community awareness: Marketing and outreach efforts are necessary to establish basic solar literacy and promote the services of trained technicians.
Our time in Tanna reaffirmed that while the journey is challenging, the potential impact is enormous. By equipping local technicians with the right skills, tools, and recognition, we’re helping communities take ownership of their energy future.