Go Green, Go Solar ……. Napenda Solar Community
For the past few months our focus has not always been on our overland safaris and guided self drive expeditions but on Napenda Solar Community.
What is that I hear you ask? For those who have been on a safari or expedition with Africa Expedition Support and have met Thiemo or I probably recall at least one conversation about solar power with us. Yes, solar power, this is not a misprint. This is a topic we are pretty passionate about, we believe in it and proved that it works time and time again. After all we could not run our workshop or office without solar power. You see we are based only 1 hour from Nairobi, Kenya yet we don’t have any mains power – so for us to run our business we rely on the sun – solar power.
In addition to our guided self drive expeditions we also run a number of, what are called, “service trips” for school, university and teen groups. These are tailored trips with all the usual Africa bells and whistles (game parks, beaches etc) with service projects – projects where students have the opportunity to give something back to less fortunate communities while learning about their culture and experiencing their lives. It is not uncommon for families and couples to also want to participate in a community service project.
Our area is pretty underdeveloped in every way, there are very few schools, dirt roads that are lucky to see a grader once a year, no electricity, no clean water and the list goes on. Hence Napenda Solar Community is a way to bring solar power to our local community by involving students and tour groups in solar power workshops that result in solar power systems being installed by the students and tour groups in poor rural homes, schools and clinics.
teens hard at work building a solar power system
A clear win win for all. Let’s face it, with the depleting world resources, there is a strong focus on clean renewable energies. Throughout the USA, Australia, UK and Europe there is a push to go green – the recent People’s Climate March was testimony to this. In Africa there is no choice, with very limited infrastructure and high cost of mains power the most economical way to go is solar power. Although not expensive the costs of setting up solar power even in a small home are prohibitive especially for those living on less than USD$2 per day.
Napenda Solar Community heavily subsidise these costs enabling communities to get connected to power. A way for tourists and student groups to experience and learn from a local Masai community, go back home with greater understanding and appreciation of renewable energies; and valuable skills to set up their own solar power system if they choose to.
Who would have thought you could come to Kenya to learn amazing new skills?
For more information on our solar power workshops check out
http://www.africaexpeditionsupport.com/napenda/solar-power-workshops.html
If you would like to add a solar power workshop to your safari or expedition email me, Debs, at info@africaexpeditionsupport.com or Anne at solar@africaexpeditionsupport.com
Don’t forget to like us on www.facebook.com/napendasolarcommunity (tell your friends to like us also!) The more who know about Napenda Solar Community the more poor rural communities in Kenya will benefit!
