Atasa Solar | We Make Solar
Atasa Solar: Make Solar
Community-designed, Empowered Renewable Energy For All.
Incorporating Indigenous innovation and crafts for environmental justice.
Community-designed, Empowered Renewable Energy For All.
Incorporating Indigenous innovation and crafts for environmental justice.
WHAT WE HAVE DONE & WHERE WE ARE GOING
2022
Born out of an urgent need to provide a sustainable energy source for the rural Maasai village of Olorgesailie, Tereneh Idia of IdiaDega x OMWA: Olorgesailie Maasai Women Artisans of Kenya launched Atasa Kenya in 2022.
Building upon the design practice established in our fashion collaboration by incorporating Indigenous design and sustainable materials, Atasa Solar has created Atasa Share—shared solar lights for the community’s use as well as smaller solar charging units for each OMWA household (both designs festooned with Maasai hand-beading)—and Atasa Wear—solar-powered wearables including tote bag/backpack, phone holder, utility bag and belt, along with beaded bracelet flashlights and headlamps.
2023
After long delays in securing the paperwork to get the passports needed for travel, we are finally close to securing the passports needed to being the visa application process for the 3-4 Maasai artisans who will come to the United States to lead the design process for Atasa: Pittsburgh. In the same way Atasa: Kenya created renewable energy tools and apparel that reflected the community - we want to do the same in Pittsburgh’s Black communities that all too often have been the victim of lack of infrastructure - lighting, sidewalks, public transportation stops and poor public gathering spaces.
In addition to securing visas we also are continuing to look for funding support for our work.
2024
Our goal is to make Atasa:Pittsburgh happen in the Spring and Summer of 2024, this date is to secure the visas and funding for our work. By the Fall of 2024 we will introduce the Atasa Solar line of wearable, personal and public renewable energy products that will not only provide the wearer with fly AF solar power but will also give back economically to the communities who created the work. Sales revenue will support the maintenance of installed renewable energy as well provide support for the artisans and their community.
2022
Born out of an urgent need to provide a sustainable energy source for the rural Maasai village of Olorgesailie, Tereneh Idia of IdiaDega x OMWA: Olorgesailie Maasai Women Artisans of Kenya launched Atasa Kenya in 2022.
Building upon the design practice established in our fashion collaboration by incorporating Indigenous design and sustainable materials, Atasa Solar has created Atasa Share—shared solar lights for the community’s use as well as smaller solar charging units for each OMWA household (both designs festooned with Maasai hand-beading)—and Atasa Wear—solar-powered wearables including tote bag/backpack, phone holder, utility bag and belt, along with beaded bracelet flashlights and headlamps.
2023
After long delays in securing the paperwork to get the passports needed for travel, we are finally close to securing the passports needed to being the visa application process for the 3-4 Maasai artisans who will come to the United States to lead the design process for Atasa: Pittsburgh. In the same way Atasa: Kenya created renewable energy tools and apparel that reflected the community - we want to do the same in Pittsburgh’s Black communities that all too often have been the victim of lack of infrastructure - lighting, sidewalks, public transportation stops and poor public gathering spaces.
In addition to securing visas we also are continuing to look for funding support for our work.
2024
Our goal is to make Atasa:Pittsburgh happen in the Spring and Summer of 2024, this date is to secure the visas and funding for our work. By the Fall of 2024 we will introduce the Atasa Solar line of wearable, personal and public renewable energy products that will not only provide the wearer with fly AF solar power but will also give back economically to the communities who created the work. Sales revenue will support the maintenance of installed renewable energy as well provide support for the artisans and their community.
Maria, Sunkara and Lanket model the beaded Atasa phone necklace.
A collaboration of
OMWA: Olorgesailie Maasai Women Artisans of Kenya + IdiaDega
+ LAGI: Land Art Generator Initiative
OMWA: Olorgesailie Maasai Women Artisans of Kenya + IdiaDega
+ LAGI: Land Art Generator Initiative
Solar component training. We built the components in all of the Atasa prototypes. We will use this learning for Atasa:Pittsburgh and future collaborations.
Atasa Solar ™️ (Trademark pending) is making renewable energy public structures and wearable solar garments in collaboration with Indigenous communities to overcome environmental, economic, design racism and misogyny beginning in Olorgesailie Kenya.
Energy access is an…
Environmental
Race
Gender
Economic
Ecological
Agricultural
Education
Design
Social
Cultural
Political
Justice Issue
In the spirit of Kenyan “Jua Kali - get it done” tradition, this “fierce sun” energizes our global project launching in the Maasai community of Olorgesailie, Kenya. Our community led design process marries traditional Indigenous architecture and design skills with contemporary renewable energy materials. This is a new design language process for clean energy systems designed by and for Indigenous people and the world. The new sustainable model for the production of culturally-apt renewable energy products can then be implemented in other communities all over the world.
In addition to capacity building and cultural exchange, the project will result in functional solar energy structures, personal wearable charging garments, and sustainable energy from communities. After completing the designs in the Spring of 2022 we are planning to bring Atasa to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.
The Atasa Solar Team:
OMWA: Olorgesailie Maasai Women Artisans of Kenya
Tereneh Idia, IdiaDega
LAGI: Land Art Generator Initiative
We also worked with several amazing folks in Kenya including:
Cecilia Nyoko
Job Mwathi
Bidii Leathers
We would like to thank these Foundations for their support:
The Opportunity Fund
Dawn and Chris Fleischner, Fleischner Family Charitable Foundation
True Costs Initiative - The Fifth Quarter
Thank you for in-kind and equipment support:
Jon Gann and Michael Shankle
Thanks to our 91 Indiegogo campaign contributors including:
Jessica Manack
Bethan Rayner
Carl Sisco
Mista Sparklet
Ms. Peachie
Thank you. Asante sana (Kiswahili) Ashe oleng (Kimaasai).
Energy access is an…
Environmental
Race
Gender
Economic
Ecological
Agricultural
Education
Design
Social
Cultural
Political
Justice Issue
In the spirit of Kenyan “Jua Kali - get it done” tradition, this “fierce sun” energizes our global project launching in the Maasai community of Olorgesailie, Kenya. Our community led design process marries traditional Indigenous architecture and design skills with contemporary renewable energy materials. This is a new design language process for clean energy systems designed by and for Indigenous people and the world. The new sustainable model for the production of culturally-apt renewable energy products can then be implemented in other communities all over the world.
In addition to capacity building and cultural exchange, the project will result in functional solar energy structures, personal wearable charging garments, and sustainable energy from communities. After completing the designs in the Spring of 2022 we are planning to bring Atasa to Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.
The Atasa Solar Team:
OMWA: Olorgesailie Maasai Women Artisans of Kenya
Tereneh Idia, IdiaDega
LAGI: Land Art Generator Initiative
We also worked with several amazing folks in Kenya including:
Cecilia Nyoko
Job Mwathi
Bidii Leathers
We would like to thank these Foundations for their support:
The Opportunity Fund
Dawn and Chris Fleischner, Fleischner Family Charitable Foundation
True Costs Initiative - The Fifth Quarter
Thank you for in-kind and equipment support:
Jon Gann and Michael Shankle
Thanks to our 91 Indiegogo campaign contributors including:
Jessica Manack
Bethan Rayner
Carl Sisco
Mista Sparklet
Ms. Peachie
Thank you. Asante sana (Kiswahili) Ashe oleng (Kimaasai).
