Lamalera Wonder Women: Initiator of Green and Clean Improvement for Their Local

The hard works from Mama Rovina and other wonder women brought the light into the life of almost all Lamalera villagers with their eco-friendly solar-powered lamps. In 2016, there are already 388 wonder women in Lamalera village and the area around it and they have joined Ibu Inspirasiprogram. 

The wonder women managed to bring the life of 62,775 people around Lembata island to achieve better life quality through green technology, such as solar-powered lamps, solar-powered home systems, and water filter (Kopernik). Approximately the wonder women gained their increasing revenue as much for 12% each month for selling those products.

PLN with their massive fossil fuel failed to fulfill the electrical needs for Indonesian local people. Meanwhile, the solar-powered lamps which being controlled by the local women could cover almost the whole island. If previously they must spend Rp. 50.000,00 -- Rp. 100.000,00 each month to buy kerosene, the solar-powered lamps only took them for Rp. 5.000,00 -- Rp, 10.000,00 each month.  

The existence of green technology made Lamalera local women to feel safe to do outdoor activities when the night falls. Their family members can also be free from the risk of catching certain disease from the use of kerosene lanterns. In addition, that better energy access also give them more chance to explore their prime potential to create a sustainable life. Not only to benefit themselves, the role of wonder women through Ibu Inspirasiprogram also succeeded in helping the government to minimize the emission of CO2 for about 5000 tons (Kopernik).

What have been done by Lamalera local women inspired us to create the term of "energy democracy". The people of Lamalera, through the action of its local women, have chosen to no longer depend their life to fossil fuel as the main energy source as it is claimed to accelerate climate change. They have solely depend their life on new and renewable energy through the solar-powered lamps.

They are not only becoming passive consumers of NRE, but they have the ability to distribute it to other villagers who experience the similar probem, to set the product's selling price on the market, as well to decide the proper payment method. 

The local government nor Kopernik are no longer have the right to control the whole profit, their job is now to produce NRE technologies and monitor the project implementation. Aside from that, the power is held by society. New and renewable energy did not only gave them easier life, but also increased their financial prosperity. That's how "energy democracy" works.

"Mother of the archipelago: women as light, for their friends and relatives, for beloved Indonesia", said the wonder women.