UPDATE: Solar system helps power the Deir al-Sudan Women’s Cooperative in the West Bank

Solar system helps power the Deir al-Sudan Women’s Cooperative in the West Bank

We’ve had an exciting update on the solar panel and battery storage in the Deir Al Sudan Women’s Cooperative in the West Bank. 

“The Solar panels gave us a positive push to work, and we feel we are more successful now. Watering the crops now takes 1 hour instead of 3 hours” Fida Abdul Razzaq, a founding member of Der Al- Sudan women cooperative.

Why have we funded this?

In October last year our customer members democratically voted to transfer $10,000 Union Aid Abroad – APHEDA to the inspiring Deir Al Sudan Women’s Cooperative in the West Bank for this new solar and battery system. As a not for profit cooperative we are able to use funds that a normal electricity company would put towards their own profits, to have a positive impact. 

Prior to the solar power and battery installation the cooperative was reliant on purchasing irregular and expensive electricity from the Israeli managed grid. As a result, they were highly reliant on manual labour for pumping water, and did not have power to the small office on the farm site.

Having access to consistent power means they can use electrified rather than manual water pumps. The Cooperative now has power to the office, providing lighting and the ability to make a cup of tea in their office, making a more productive and comfortable work environment. They have also been able to purchase a freezer which helps extend the lifespan of foods, reducing waste and increasing income to the cooperative.

What is the Deir al-Sudan Cooperative?

The Deir al-Sudan Cooperative is comprised of 16 women as committee members, and engages on a regular basis with 80 women in the community. They manage an ecological farm and sell food produce which supports local access to nutritious food and provides income for the members. 

These cooperatives are impactful for individual members by generating income for previously unemployed women and people with disability and enhancing the dignity, skills, community engagement and psychology of the cooperative members. 

At a broader level, the cooperative approach is creating local economic self-sufficiency, maintaining the environment, sustaining indigenous ownership of the land and bolstering resilience.

Thank you again to our customer members for making this possible.

If you would like to help increase our impact further you can by referring us to a friend or family member via this link. If you would like to donate to the APHEDA Emergency Appeal for the people of Gaza and Lebanon you can here.

This is solidarity in action and we’re so glad our customer members voted for this important project.

You can also see some photos APHEDA sent us (with permission to publish) of the Deir Al Sudan Women’s Cooperative with the new solar panels and the installation of the new refrigerator below.