Entrepreneur Luke Barbagallo using solar tech to help women in Indian, Nepal
A West Heidelberg entrepreneur is using solar power to shine a light on poverty in Indian and Nepal. Here’s his plan to help women in those countries break out of poverty.
Inner East
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West Heidelberg’s Luke Barbagallo is part of a group training Indian and Nepalese female entrepreneurs to sell products in their communities, to bring themselves out of poverty.
And they aren’t typical products, but things that greatly advantage the community.
“We train local female entrepreneurs to sell high quality products,” Mr Barbagallo said.
“Such as solar lamps, water filters and larger solar home systems to power cookstoves, solar fans and even mobile phones.”
The women purchase these products on an interest free payment plan, with no initial payment made and they also keep the majority of the profits once sold.
He joined social enterprise Pollinate Group in 2016, a group that attempts to address the causes of poverty, energy access and gender inequality in intergenerational poverty cycles.
Mr Barbagallo said the solar powered lamps and fans can be life changing.
“I love I get to apply my skills to inspire others to make a difference by sharing the impact of female empowerment,” Mr Barbagallo said.
“We create positive opportunities in underprivileged communities.”
The groups main office is in Bangalore but Mr Barbagallo is Melbourne based and goes to Nepal roughly every nine months.
“We focus on women's empowerment and it helps them tackle many barriers,” he said.
Mr Barbagallo said he keeps a few of the solar powered products at home.
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“They remind me how seemingly simple household items can have such a big impact for woman and communities in India and Nepal,” Mr Barbagallo said.
For the holiday season Pollinate raised $20,000 to run a mentorship program.
Donations made to the Pollinate Group are tax deductible and they are always accepting new people to join their projects.
courtney.beaumont@news.com.au