Sacramento Job Corps carpentry students show the completed Solar Suitcases.

Carpentry students from Sacramento Job Corps were among a select group of area students from community colleges and high schools who were recognized for their work building Solar Suitcases, portable photovoltaic lighting systems, by the California Legislature Aug. 15. The Sacramento Job Corps students were recognized for building 15 solar suitcases. These portable lighting systems were delivered to orphanages, clinics and schools in Haiti, Cameroon, Sierra Leone and Uganda. The lighting systems were installed in facilities that were connected to unreliable power grids, including orphanages currently housing children living with AIDS, and hospital maternity and surgical units.

During the ceremony Aug. 15, the Green Tech Solar Suitcase Project was recognized for its exemplary service in providing local youth an introduction to solar technology and in delivering portable solar lighting to orphanages and medical units in developing countries. Assembly members Roger Dickinson and Holly Mitchell and U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui presented legislative recognition to student participants, including carpentry students from Sacramento Job Corps. Sacramento Job Corps Carpentry Instructor John Stiff supervised Job Corps students on this project and accompanied student representatives to the ceremony.

The project introduced Job Corps students and other area students to solar technology that makes the Solar Suitcase possible. Students learned how to build the Solar Suitcase, including configuring the system and wiring the units. Additionally, the project introduced students to career opportunities in the clean energy and energy efficiency fields.

Green Tech is a community-based non-profit organization offering clean energy and energy efficiency awareness workshops, projects and green tech tours.  Its goal is to prepare at-risk youth, young adults and military veterans with workforce skills for careers in clean energy and energy efficiency industry.

For more information about Green Tech visit www.greentechedu.org or call (916) 224-1024.