In the remote community of Larimaat, Eastern Central Pentecost, women have emerged as central agents of resilience and empowerment, demonstrating how access to electricity can transform lives beyond infrastructure. After a failed pilot electrification project years ago, a new initiative—funded by the Government of Japan under UNDP’s Pacific Green Transformation Project and Vanuatu Green Transformation Project—aims to provide 24/7 clean energy access to Larimaat by the end of this year, reigniting the community’s hopes for sustainable development and opportunity.
Reaching Larimaat remains a significant challenge, involving a three- to four-hour trek from the nearest town through muddy trails, flooded paths, and cyclone-damaged terrain. Despite these obstacles, the community’s remoteness has fostered strong solidarity and determination. When construction began on the new pico-hydro power station, the women of Larimaat took proactive roles, contributing labor and resources to ensure the project’s success.
The GX pico-hydro project will establish 147 electricity connections across four communities—Le Vitlis, Larimaat, Vanrasini, and Jimberke—linking 121 households, 18 businesses, and eight institutions including schools and health facilities through a 5.2-kilometer electrical network. The reliable supply of clean energy is expected to significantly enhance daily life, enabling children to study safely at night, health workers to maintain cold chains for medicines and vaccines, and women and youth to develop new livelihoods through activities like sewing, cooking, and refrigeration-based businesses. Families will also save time previously spent collecting firewood, while the community as a whole gains improved safety, economic opportunities, and resilience.
Central to this effort is Micheline Molsambak, a 45-year-old mother of six, who mobilized women to actively support construction efforts. Community members carry heavy buckets of sand and coral, dig trenches for the electricity network, and participate in Green Skills Training sessions, earning modest income while establishing a sense of ownership over the project. Women like Elisa Tamaraka, Gina Wakret, and Imelda Virey view their contributions not only as income-generating opportunities but also as transformative for their families’ education, livelihoods, and daily lives, replacing the expensive and unreliable kerosene and solar lamps previously in use.
The women’s work includes digging the entire 4-kilometer trench for the electricity network by hand, overcoming challenging terrain and rocky ground. Their earnings support school fees, household necessities, and aspirations for stronger homes capable of withstanding cyclones. Traditional handicrafts such as weaving mats and baskets will also benefit from extended hours of productivity after sunset. Chief Pierre Chanel Vireyal acknowledges the vital role women have played, emphasizing that the project’s success is a result of their initiative and determination.
Although small in scale, the Larimaat pico-hydro station promises profound impacts. Once operational, it will enable refrigeration, sewing, baking, and better study conditions for children, while saving time and improving livelihoods. With thousands of materials yet to be transported and considerable labor ahead, every contribution moves the community closer to a brighter, more empowered future. For Larimaat, electrification represents dignity, collective effort, and proof that real change comes from the people themselves.
