Update on our recent visit to Tanzania

We visited Tanzania recently to check out our pilot project there, which is taking place in Iringa, in the South of the country. It was a tremendous experience. We're working with Neema Crafts, a local NGO that works with the deaf and disabled. We trained four of their staff to build and sell solar chargers for lanterns, radios and mobiles. They then go out in the local communities to sell them.

The amazing thing is that this directly deals with a serious problem that most rural households face: how to get a reliable, safe and affordable supply of energy. Our research shows that the average household in rural areas spends between 10-20% of its income on kerosene for their kerosene lamp, single use batteries for their radio, and, if they have one, charging their mobile phone. When you're living on a dollar a day, that's a lot of money.

Fortunately, they can save up for a few months and buy one of the solar chargers built by our local solar entrepreneurs at Neema Crafts. This solar charger can then power a kerosene lamp converted into a solar lantern using LEDs, a radio, and charge a mobile - so they then start saving all the money they would previously have spent on energy. Meanwhile, the solar entrepreneurs also make money - so it's a win-win situation!

Nick Sireau
SolarAid Director