Malcolm Gee, Project Coordinator

During the period of June 8th to August 3rd 2008, AHEAD conducted a solar energy project in 7 villages in The Gambia, namely Seyoni, Kerawan, Ker-cherno, Jarra Toinataba, Kartung, Kalogi, and Sangaro . In general, the project went exceptionally well with phenomenal response from the local villagers and the communities of elders we worked with.  In true AHEAD style, we were able to take advantage of our sound relationships and our partnership in these communities to afford an enthusiastic interest in solar cooking and water pasteurization.  
The AHEAD contingent was joined by four persons from the International Awards Scheme (http://www.manchester.ac.uk/postgraduate/researchdegrees/).  We visited each of the villages where workshops were held last year to assess the progress made; solve any problems the villagers had and; educate and reinforce the utility and necessity of utilization of solar energy in our daily lives; and establish an entity for marketing and selling solar cookers for the villagers as a mechanism for cooperative economics. Each village trained additional women in the construction and use of panel solar cookers and we support their efforts and expansion by providing the needed additional materials to make enough cookers for fellow villagers and to sell at market. In each village, we partnered with our experienced educators to showcase the solar cookers, using them to sterilize water, and experiment with different local foods. The main problem experienced by most of the women was that the panel cooker is adequate for only preparing a meal for a family of four, but the average family size in The Gambia is 10 persons with a range of 5-18, requiring many families to use two Cookers when preparing their meals. 

Our original plan was to add 5 villages to our project, but the need for further work in the current villages precluded our doing so. We thought it best to add only 2 villages this trip, which would afford us a chance to slowly expand and incorporate improvements or changes as we progressed. The two villages, Seyoni and Kartung, extended our coverage of The Gambia.  After consulting the chief of each village, we taught 12-15 women the “theory” of solar energy and how to construct and use Cookits. The women readily learned to construct cookers and were amazed that they could cook foods, with out having to rely in fossil fuels or local timber. AHEAD personnel reinforced how this affords the community the ability to preserve and develop the local natural forestation, prevent future deforestation, and allow for preservation of those financial resources previously dedicated to purchasing cooking fuels.

We cooked rice, fish, vegetables and purified water. These women, once trained and competent, assisted AHEAD in training many others in the villages and local communities.  They continue to educate and train others, expanding AHEAD's reach and ability to use our greatest natural resource, the sun, and communal cooperation to teach villagers a mechanism for sterilization of water, conserve the environment, and easily and safely prepare nutritionally sound meals.   

The principle draw back in our project is time and additional cooket resources.  The time we spent in the villages where too short. We need to make repeated visits in order to inspire the women and solve any problems and reach out to more communities. Currently, we visit each village once every 3 months. Transportation is another hindrance since we must rely on the local system to get around. Fares have increased, and the roads are in disrepair, which increases travel time.

The overall opinions of the participants in the project were favorable. The women learned about solar cooking. They thought the presenters and materials used were adequate, and expressed satisfaction and enthusiasm about with the process, its success, and its future. 

Plans for future include:

• adding 2-4 new villages a year
• introducing box cookers, Rocket Stoves and solar dryers to the groups
• setting up a cooperative for selling cookers;
• establishing a revolving loan system for women to borrow money for small business, such as tie & dye, mosquito net making, etc.
• conducting a solar energy workshop
• educate communities regarding environmental conservation
• communal water pasteurization programming