IRP -  community  empowerment

IRP believes that in order to achieve sustainability, ownership of the project must reside within the direct beneficiaries: the community. As this concept is key for the success and continuation of the project activites, IRP has sought the involvement of the community members of Padre Cocha since project onset.

Despite the fact of administrative delays, the community members of Padre Cocha and its officials always provided their full support because they believe that the RAPS systems will bring clean and renewable energy to their families.

As a proof of community ownership, members of Padre Cocha showed their total support and dedication for the implementation of this project. On August 23 and 24, 2002, the entire community, IRP and the technical team unloaded batteries, chargers, inverters, spare parts, battery covers, etc. from the shipping vessels that went through the Amazon. All these components and parts will be put together to assemble the major power shelters along with the solar panels to bring clean and renewable electricity to Padre Cocha.

The support of adults --men and women-- and children of Padre Cocha to IRP and the technical team was overwhelming. The entire community stood up and helped with the set up process of the major components of the RAPS system. Take a look at how the entire community mobilized themselves to seek and attain development for their own community.