Qatar Solar Technologies (QSTec) and SolarWorld have signed a memorandum of understanding with the Educate A Child (EAC) programme to bring quality primary education to millions of out-of-school children.

The partnership is focused on working together in applications of solar energy, to allow for the donation of solar panels to selected schools in specific countries, a statement from QSTec said. It will also aim to provide affordable renewable energy for schools in selected countries and other solutions in the renewable energy sector.

The memorandum was signed at a high-level strategic meeting in Doha focused on accelerating progress towards attaining the second millennium development goal of universal primary education by the end of 2015.

At the meeting, Educate A Child announced several memorandums and agreements with a range of organisations, including private sector and NGOs, the statement said. Working with such a diverse range of partners allows EAC to catalyse innovative learning solutions for the world’s hardest-to-reach children - those affected by extreme poverty, conflict, natural disaster and prejudice.

“QSTec and SolarWorld AG are proud to support this important initiative,” said Dr Khalid Klefeekh Al Hajri, QSTec’s chairman and CEO. “Educating our youth and providing new opportunities for learning is a significant challenge for many people living in remote communities.”

“By working with EAC to provide solar energy solutions for schools, we aim to create an environment that facilitates innovative learning for communities in areas that otherwise don’t have access to online education tools, internet connectivity or reliable electricity supplies.  QSTec and SolarWorld congratulate the EAC on their outstanding efforts in expanding education across the world and we look forward working with them in bringing solar energy to schools.”  

Mary Joy Pigozzi, director of Educate A Child, said: “We are delighted to be working with Qatar Solar Technologies and SolarWorld because of the rich wealth of experience they bring to the area of solar energy. Working with them will bring us a new level of technological expertise, and help EAC to apply innovative solutions to learning.”

“EAC has supported over 600,000 out of school children into learning in its first months of operation. We are confident that by building this new level of collaboration, with partners such Qatar Solar Technologies and SolarWorld AG, we will be able to reach millions more in the coming years.” – TradeArabia News Service