Tag: Cameroon

Solar Electricity to the Bororo People 28.05.2017

On the last visit to Cameroon (May 13-22, 2017) SunErgy entered into an agreement to the tune of an estimated 23 million USD with the Bororo Fulani (tribe). The plan is that SunErgy shall provide 100 Bororo villages or 33 000 families with solar electricity, Cable TV and Internet.

The project is fully financed by the Republic of Cameroon and the Islamic Development Bank. Banja will serve as the pilot and when successfully up and running we will move to the other villages.

The Bororo people, who used to be nomadic herdsmen, occupy many parts of Central and West Africa. Today they mostly live in smaller villages such as Banja, still active in agriculture and cattle rearing.

28.05.2017

Just returned

Yesterday, 22.04.2017, we returned from Cameroon from one of the monthly visits.

The main agenda this time was to visit the villages of Bokosso and Kotho 1.

In Bokosso the task was to check that things are in order and running as planned.

In Kotho 1, the next village to have electricity the job was to check status. The work is going full speed ahead with the air vibrating of expectation of things to come. People are volunteering en masse. No shortage of people wanting to help. Young and old, men and women, boys and girls; you name it, they are there!

700 Panels from Singapore

Yesterday, 18.03.2017, four o`clock in the morning, SunErgy Cameroon declared and received a 40 feet container with 700 panels from Singapore in the port of Douala. The panels are for the two next villages. A big congratulation to Mr. Mike and our Cameroon team!

We all know only too well that to import goods to Africa and Cameroon is no easy task; certainly not for amateurs or the fainthearted to try. Again Mr. Mike and the team, having the necessary knowledge, skills and experience, were successful within the shortest period of time. It took a couple of weeks compared to almost six months for the first container a couple of years ago. Things are improving and moving forward!

Well done!

More than 30 new jobs

Bokosso was the first village that “saw the light” about 1 1/2 year ago.

Upon the last visit to Bokosso (a week ago) we learned about the creation of more than thirty new jobs since the day the electricity was switched on. One is a bakery, which employs ten persons and delivers bread to Bokosso and twelve surrounding villages!

Another interesting eye-opener was all the building of new houses. In Bokosso alone more than five new houses have been built with additional being constructed. People are buying land to build on. As the Chief John Benga of Bokosso said in a television interview when switching on electricity: “Bokossso will never be the same. Houses will be built, jobs created. People will buy land and move to Bokosso.”

Chief Benga was right. Things are changing fast for the better for people in Bokosso, but not only for them. Soon development will reach the other villages in the region. People are already buying land and building new houses knowing that electricity, cable TV and Internet soon will come their way.

Prosperity and a brighter future is more than a dream. It`s a dream come true. Reality!

17.03.2017

Miracle Workers!

Going to the villages takes its toll on the cars. The roads are more than just bumpy; sometimes more like riverbeds. Constant repair and maintenance is the rule rather than the exception.

Last week we had to change the engines in two of the cars. The Russian truck Gaz, which has served us well for a couple of years, got its engine replaced by a Toyota Hi-Ace engine. The Land Rover also got a new engine installed. On the Gaz we also rebuilt the bed and reinforced the frame. That car takes a lot of beatings going back and forth with heavy material.

Much welding and fitting took place before the new engines were installed and the cars ready to go; all done by our own people in our simple workshop. Creative and clever. Miracle workers!

13.02.2017

New Town Bokosso up and running

It is with great pleasure to let you know that a couple of hours ago on 26.11.2016, we switched on the electricity in New Town Bokosso. According to Managing Director of SunErgy Cameroon, Mr. Mike Fohba it works perfect; people are jubilant and ready for a all night celebration! And thinking about it: what a way to start the advent season. Could it be more timely and perfect? Deep in the rainforest, seeing the light for the first time. More than symbolic!

With New Town Bokosso two villages are up and running. Work is under way on the third village: soon they will also see the light. And then, we will roll out, roll out ……… and roll out again, again and again!

The energy miracle is more than a dream; it`s a dream coming true. Eight hundred million people in Sub-Saharan Africa without access to electricity, there is no stopping now!

Students of Solar Engery 20.08.2016

Each Summer SunErgy accepts a group of students for internship in Solar Energy. This year five lucky engineering students from the University of Buea got the opportunity.

The students are being trained in all aspects of solar energy including Solar Power generation, transmission, distribution, the Solar business and the SunErgy idea and vision. They also participate actively working in “SunErgy villages”

“Education is a cornerstone for future development and growth of Africa; the same with electricity. The two walk hand in hand” says Mr. Mike Fohba, Managing Director of SunErgy Cameroon and responsible for the training assisted by the Technical Director Mr. John Ngam and other staff members.

“During their three months training with us, they acquire a lot of knowledge and practical skills, which will turn them into better students, while also preparing them for the job market and future jobs,” Mr. Fohba concludes, himself a part-time engineering lecturer at the University of Buea.

20.08.2016

Happy Birthday

On  August 15, 2016 we will celebrate the one-year anniversary of switching on electricity in the village of Bokosso. In addition this past year we provided the people with access to cable TV and the Internet.

Next two Solar containers released on record time

We are hard working on electrifying villages enabling people to escape poverty, moving into a better and brighter future.

Yesterday, June 2 2016, two solar containers were released from the harbor in Douala on record time. First time we shipped containers to Cameroon, we struggled for six months to have the containers released. This time it took only four weeks. Real progress.

One may look for the reasons are behind this “real progress”. It could be a combination of several factors. One is that things are improving and moving forward in Cameroon, which is great and encouraging for future developments. The second (and for sure), we have also learned a thing or two about shipping containers to Cameron and having them released without any major hick-ups or delays. Both important. Time for celebration! Soon more families will have access to electricity, moving out of darkness to a brighter and more prosperous future.

In the containers was also school materials donated by the French company Hamelin to be distributed to schoolchildren in the villages when school starts this fall.

03.06.2016

First Booklet “African Village Entrepreneurship!” finalized

We have just finished the booklet “African Village Entrepreneurship”. We got the ten first copies from the printer last week. As far as we know, this is the first booklet of its kind written for people who live in far off villages, such as deep in the rainforest of Cameroon.

We will use the book at the various entrepreneurship training seminars we arrange and also give to people who want to start their own business. That it will bring inspiration and knowledge for a successful start up.

This is big for us, but it will hopefully prove even bigger for the people for whom it is intended.

03.05.2016