Progress of Solar Lighting Initiative in Uganda
by Genice Jacobs | May 11, 2009 at 5:03 PM
We are making progress. Professor Toby Cumberbatch of The Cooper Union will be visiting with the members and leaders of Uganda Space on June 29 and 30th to explore the possibility of establishing a solar lighting enterprise. Following is a list of issues to be explored. I will keep this group posted on the progress.
QUESTIONS TO BE ADDRESSED BY PROFESSOR TOBY CUMBERBATCH
1.How does a solar lantern work?
2.Who will manufacture the lanterns?
3. Are spare parts like bulbs will be readily available?
4.What is the anticipated cost for each lantern? will the price be subsidised?
5.What is the initial deposit or pay for the lantern by community members if using a micofinance model?
6.How long will the lantern run when fully charged?
7. Will the lantern work during rainy days?
8.Why do you want to replace paraffin lamps with solar lanterns?
9.What will happen to the paraffin lamps people have been using? can you make any use of them and subsidise on the cost of the lanterns?
10.We think there are so many solar lantern models on market, what makes yours very unique from others?
11.For how long will this project run with uganda space? How are you planning to make it sustainable/
12.How are you going to raise the initial capital to start off the project in the community? When do you think it will start?
Do you have funding parteners for this project?
13.How will uganda space women who are going to assemble and sell the lamps gain in this project?
14.How will the community gain from this project?
15.What are some of the forseeable obstacles to this project? How are you planning to solve them?
16.How many people do you intend to employ in this project?
17.What logistics have you put in place for the volunteers in this project?
18.What motivated you to think about starting this project in the rural area of uganda?
19.Are the solar lanterns sustainable/
20.Does your lantern satisfy the ergonomic requirements?
21. What are the safety precautions taken when using this lantern/
22.Eplain the techinical specifications of your lantern.
23.How will the repair of the lantern be made in case of faulty?
24. Does your lantern has a gurantee?
25.can you find away of intergrating the solar lantern and solar panel more effectively?
26.can your solar system be used to charge mobile phones and radios?
27.Where will be the recharge station? will recharging be free?
28. where will the solar panel be kept at night?
29.How will the money be collected from people in case you use a loan system? What will be the pay back period?
30.Is there any ways you are going to help the community women in ther projects like poultry, education, sewing etc?
Comments
Potential funding resources
Genice, I sent you an email detailing some resources for you and Nalubega but it says your mailbox is full. If you do not receive the message, let me know and I will forward it again. Here are two additional resources that may be of interest for this project:
http://www.draperrichards.org/
The Draper Richards Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship provides selected early-stage nonprofit organizations with start-up funding of $100,000 annually for three years, as well as assistance and support. Organizations must have or plan to get 501c3 status to apply.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, year-around. Start-up funds are structured as fellowships to emphasize the importance of the entrepreneur in the selection process. The Foundation's funding strategy is based on a venture capital model and involves significant amounts of research and diligence before an investment is made.
For more information about the Foundation and its application process, visit www.draperrichards.org
http://www.socialedge.org/features/opportunities/archive/2007/08/21/skol...
The application process for the Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship is now open. The Skoll Awards for Social Entrepreneurship are designed to support and celebrate social entrepreneurs whose work has the potential for large-scale impact on the critical challenges of our time: tolerance and human rights, health, environmental sustainability, peace and security, institutional responsibility and economic and social equity.
The Award includes funding to the organization of up to $1 million paid over three years for core support, as well as a non-cash award to the social entrepreneur leading the organization's work at the Skoll World Forum on Social Entrepreneurship.
The selection process will continue to be highly competitive, with 10-12 Awards in each twelve month cycle. Admissions are accepted on a rolling basis.