Twelve thousand. That is how many people received advanced technical training, a foundation for a future career in renewable energy or their first exposure to the most basic ideas of energy efficiency and renewables, from Solar Energy International (SEI) in 2011. Solar Energy International aims to reach that pinnacle again in 2012.

Solar Energy International is training trainers. Solar Energy International is training current and future technicians. Solar Energy International is also training kids in all grade levels to understand where electricity comes from - and that energy from the sun is limitless. Solar Energy International is training people in remote villages and communities in Africa, Asia, and South and Central America to harness the energy of the sun, wind and water around them so that their children can read their school books after the sun goes down. Solar Energy International is training American women with technical or medical backgrounds to work as Solar Suitcase Ambassadors around the world. These Ambassadors will deliver the small plug-and-play solar electric systems to maternal health workers in rural communities, who will in turn use them for basic obstetric care, significantly reducing the 350,000 deaths of women and millions of newborn babies each year.

Solar Energy International is working with Native Americans to spread the word about renewable energy, perform maintenance projects on the Dann Ranch, Rocky Ridge School (on the Navajo reservation), White Earth reservation and also to create a solar power trailer for White Earth and Honor the Earth gatherings. Solar Energy International's free online Introduction to Renewable Energy course (http://www.solarenergy.org/workshop/introduction-renewable-energy-free-online-course), in both Spanish and English, is moderated by SEI staff to answer student questions on-demand. Solar Energy International provides a lending library of books, tools and equipment available to teachers that want to bring renewable energy into the classroom but do not have those resources available otherwise.

To honor Earth Week, please support SEI’s training efforts with a donation that funds outreach programs and free renewable energy education at: http://www.solarenergy.org/sei-education-fund-support-sei

Please consider an automatic monthly recurring donation. Just think, $25 per month equates to $300 in one year - what a difference that will make on renewable energy education for a sustainable future.

About SEI
Since 1991, SEI has been dedicated to hands-on labs, online solar training, and renewable energy education. Solar Energy International also works with grassroots and development organizations to promote sustainability and improve quality of life worldwide through viable outreach programs. Visit SE online at http://www.solarenergy.org.
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