V2SDF - VET TO STOP DEFORESTATION

VET TO STOP DEFORESTATIONThe VET TO STOP DEFORESTATION (V2SDF) project aims to improve the capacity of vocational training in Burundi to respond to the country's environmental sustainability strategies.One of the biggest environmental problems Burundi has to face is deforestation, which is largely due to the use of firewood or charcoal as practically the only possible fuel for cooking.With the V2SDF project we will design a professional training course in Solar Cooker Manufacturing (SCM), train VET teachers from Burundi, develop supporting teaching materials and design a suitable workshop model to impart the course. To test, improve and evaluate the quality of the project results, a prototype workshop will be implemented in a pilot course with Burundian students in Gitega (Burundi).The expected medium-term impact of this project is to provide the Burundian labour market with technicians to supply the country with solar cookers, thereby reducing the amount of wood and charcoal used for cooking by Burundian families and at the same time boosting the local economy. The expected long-term impact is to use the sun as a normal source of energy for cooking and thus reduce deforestation.The project will involve VET centres in Burundi, Spain and Turkey, the general directorates of VET of Castilla y León (Spain) and Burundi, a Burundian state employment agent and a Burundian company, as well as a Spanish company acting as an affiliated entity. The project is also supported by several universities and companies as partners.Finally, it is important to highlight that the project has the commitment of the Burundian Ministry of National Education and Scientific Research to include the Solar Cookers Manufacturing course in the national catalogue of vocational training courses.