August 2008 Archives

Greetings from Zambia! More specifically, greetings from the district of Mumbwa. More specifically than that... greetings from a small white minibus which is driving due east along the road back towards Lusaka. Thankfully it's a tarmac road, which means I can write this. We've just spent the last few hours on incredibly dusty tracks running between the villages of Chilimboyi and Nakasaka where our partners, the People's Action Forum, run community centres- CABLAC (Capacity Building Learning Activity Centres).

Yesterday, in Chilimboyi, we attended the official inauguration of the new solar system - which involved plenty of speeches, a play with a solar power theme and a bit of dancing by yours truly with Paul Simon from the Global Cool Foundation and Margaret, PAF's area coordinator!

Cheers and dancing as members of the community enjoy light in the Community Centre, or CABLAC, for the first time.

The day culminated with the lights being turned on - which is what this is all about. The Community of Chilimboyi now have clean renewable light. They also have the opportunity to generate an income by using the system to charge mobile phones and other devices. They've even started selling 'pay as you go' phone credit - which means people no longer have to travel into the main town just to communicate.

The illuminated CABLAC outside Mumbwa

The day ended with meal of chicken, beef stew and nshima. Nshima is a staple across much of East and Southern Africa. It's basically corn flour mixed with water which is then heated and stirred until it becomes a thick paste... sound tasty? No? Well, it's not exactly my favourite, but somehow, yesterday, I think I enjoyed it. Yep - I almost couldn't get enough of it. I must have been a hungry boy. Either that or it was the fact that Paul and I helped to make it. When I say 'helped', we stirred it... for about 10 seconds. That was enough to fill my eyes with smoke-filled tears and for Paul to start sneezing for the next 10 minutes. Smoke-free cooking is surely a priority for the chefs of rural Africa.

More updates soon!

John

The SolarAid team in Zambia went on a field trip last week to Mkushi district, about 350km north-east of Lusaka.

SolarAid has partnered with HODI to undertake both micro and macrosolar projects in the region.

Here's a photo of the team:

From left to right: Janelle Tisserand (MBAs Without Borders/SolarAid Zambia), Emmanuel C Chunda (Solar Coordinator for SolarAid Zambia), Simon Nguluwe (Project Manager, Fiwila - HODI) and Abel Mbewe (Programmes Manager, SolarAid Zambia)

The organisation HODI, was set up in 1996 to provide support for community-based organisations, with the aim of encouraging self-sufficiency. It operates primarily in rural areas, in five of Zambia's regions: Southern, Central, Copperbelt, Luapala and Northern provinces.

Sharon Makoni, at the SolarAid training workshop in Zambia

This is 20 year old Sharon Makoni of Chilimboyi, Mumbwa District, in rural Zambia. Last week Sharon joined SolarAid's first Solar Training Workshop in Zambia. She learned how to construct a simple battery recharger with a small solar panel, and in the photo is seen testing this on a converted kerosene lantern.

I've recently started a six-month assignment with MBAs Without Borders in Zambia, with the challenge of helping SolarAid to find a sustainable way of getting small solar products - such as simple solar lanterns - into the hands of Zambia's rural poor.

For people like Sharon, this could mean gaining access to cheaper and healthier lighting, as well as the chance to generate income by establishing her own micro-solar business.

It's a simple yet incredible idea - and one that could have a huge impact on the lives of millions of people living in poverty. The challenge, of course, is making it happen.

Thank you,
Janelle Tisserand

SolarAid is very grateful for the work people like Janelle and her colleagues are doing in Zambia and beyond. Please help us to have an even bigger impact on the lives of millions of people in need, by donating to this project today.

Thanks from the SolarAid team.

Solar trainees in Chilimboyi, Mumbwa. 7 August 2008

Last week the SolarAid team in Zambia spent several days in Chilimboyi, Mumbwa (about 150km west of the capital Lusaka) to conduct a series of solar training workshops.

This was a great success. Sessions included macro-solar system maintenance and management (for a recently installed solar system in the community centre); and micro-solar production. The group also participated in a fantastic (and highly interactive) session on how to improve a solar lantern prototype, to meet their specific needs. So, all very productive!

This is the first of many solar training workshops to be conducted by SolarAid in Zambia. We're very encouraged by the enthusiasm and flow of ideas from the group.

Janelle Tisserand
SolarAid Zambia/ MBAs Without Borders

Janelle Tisserand, Zambia

SolarAid is thrilled that Janelle Tisserand, has recently joined the Zambia team on a 6 month assignment.

Janelle is volunteering through the organisation MBAs Without Borders.
www.mbaswithoutborders.org