The appointed commission visited six primary and preschool educational institutions to provide them with the opportunity to acquire knowledge about solar energy.

On behalf of SERC Chile (Solar Energy Research Center), a team of professionals visited and toured at least six elementary and preschool institutions in the city of Arica to deliver books to each school—age-appropriate texts that explain solar energy in Chile and in outer space.

More than 900 students currently attending underserved schools in the Arica and Parinacota region benefited from this initiative through the distribution of the books “Con Ustedes el Sol” and “El Sol.”

“We are very proud of the work carried out by SERC Chile over the past 11 years, and we believe that these products aimed at children are very important, as they allow us to connect with younger generations and foster their interest in science.  Through our work, we have supported 632 students at the José Abelardo Agricultural High School in Arica’s Azapa Valley, 140 at the General Manuel Baquedano School, 24 at the Molinos School, 80 at the Valle de Chaca School, 8 at the Valle de Cuya School, and 27 at the Valle de Camarones School. “We will also continue this year to distribute this educational material in Camarones, Putre, and General Lagos,” said Lorena Cornejo, coordinator of the Science and Society division at SERC Chile.

General Manuel Baquedano School

He also explained that the educational materials are designed to reinforce learning about solar energy and its applications by tailoring them to this age group and providing students with access to resources that supplement their education in more challenging circumstances.

During the event, the educational community expressed its frustration over the delay in the implementation of the electricity project, as the lack of electricity directly affected the quality of education. “Thanks to these efforts—such as the delivery of educational materials—students at the Valle de Chaca School now have the opportunity to learn about solar energy, the primary energy source they have been using for more than 10 years through solar panels,” Cornejo said.

 In this way, SERC Chile seeks to lay the groundwork for a future in which solar energy is essential to community development, thereby positioning this school as a model where education and solar energy can go hand in hand to build a better tomorrow.

José Abelardo Agricultural High School, located in Arica in the Azapa Valley