Debora Jelangat from Kericho County and Celestine Chelagat are charting new paths as they pursue a one-year certificate course in refrigeration and air conditioning at the Eldoret Technical Training Institute (ETTI). Their education is funded by the GIZ Green Cooling Initiative III (GCI), which aims to empower women in the RAC sector.
Women currently make up only a small proportion of the total workforce in the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning (RAC) sector. This scholarship, supported by the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change, and Forestry, aims to change that by promoting gender equality and empowering women and girls, contributing to SDG Goal #5.
“I am honored and humbled by the efforts of GIZ sponsoring my vocational college education and will always do my best to use my skills wisely and help the cooling industry,” said Debora Jelangat.
Celestine Chelagat shared, “I would like to encourage ladies to take up courses like refrigeration and gain skills. Yes, it is technical but fulfilling.”
The Green Cooling Initiative scholarship was initiated in response to feedback from female RAC technicians, highlighting the lack of financial support for women wishing to enter Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions. This program aims to fill that gap, offering opportunities to girls and young women with inadequate financial resources.
ETTI is experienced in capacity building within the cooling sector and offers training in green cooling technologies. The institute’s curriculum includes safe handling of natural refrigerants like propane gas (R290 refrigerant), ensuring students are well-prepared for the industry’s future.
The support from the GCI scholarship is pivotal in reducing the financial burdens on these young women, allowing them to focus fully on their studies and careers.
