Support for Cancer Research [UK]

We try to support causes other than ours. On Sunday, July 24, 2011, I joined a group of Nigerian ladies to run the 'Race for Life' in support of cancer research. Each participant is asked to give a reason for running the race. Mine was for all those who have cancer, those who succumbed and those who have survived. Hopefully, a cure for cancer will soon be found. It was a great day, in support of a brilliant cause.

Solar Jooce Launches Project 'Green Hands'

Solar Jooce launched its tree-planting exercise, tagged project Green Hands' in the month of July, 2011. The project kicked off at CMS Senior Girls' Secondary school, Bariga (Lagos, Nigeria) in association with the school's vibrant Climate Change club.

Project Green Hands is headed by Awele Awanyai, a final year student at the university of Lagos, Nigeria.

More pictures: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.189363337787564.45118.100001416964107&l=a357e16027&type=1

Visit to Renewable Energy Training Centre, Cameroun

Leaving Douala for Bangang village, where ACREST is located


Dr. Vincent Kitio, Founder of ACREST


A solar lantern made by ACREST


ACREST provides its own power through a small hydro/wind station built by its staff


At Djoubé, on the way to Bangang: fresh fruit and food everywhere - consumed, sold and for export

More pictures: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.190395101017721.45314.100001416964107&l=165b1fc0b8&type=1

ACREST is a Renewable Energy training centre located in [very cold and mountainous] Bangang village, approximately 350 km from Douala (Cameroun, West Africa). It took us 10 hours to get to Bangang (normally 5-6hours) because of the gnarling traffic jam in Douala. I made the trip with Dr. Vincent Kitio, founder of ACREST and Chief of Energy at UN Habitat.

The centre trains rural people to assemble, fabricate and maintain renewable energy appliances, which range from wind, solar, and bio-fuels to hydro. After training, even semi-literate men and women are able to distinguish the different electronic components of a solar system, for example + detect and replace faulty parts, and build an appliance from the ground up.

It was a pleasant surprise to learn that ACREST generates its own electricity (for its living quarters and training centre) from a small hydro-power station. It was even more exciting to find a range of locally made products, from solar lanterns to solar cookers, solar food driers, fireless stoves, bio-sand water filters, bio-gas plants (coverting waste to energy), wind turbines, wind pumps, and water purification devices and hydro - all proudly AFRICAN, and something Solar Jooce aims to replicate in Nigeria.

Power to rural people...

Solar-for-the-Masses | Dustbin Estate, Part II

Our second trip to Dustbin Estate in Ajegunle area of Lagos state (Nigeria) sw us donating a solar kit+phone charger to the homes of two very brilliant children, Emmanuel & Solomon.

Emmanuel always comes first in class and wants to be a lawyer. Solomon is a voracious reader and wants to be a doctor. Both children were so excited to have light that will enable them read at night and also do their homework - without strainig their eyes or making their parents buy kerosene to light up lanterns.



Solar jooce volunteer engineer, David Osokolo lights up Emmanuel's home, while Solomon (R) assists




The front of Solomon's house


Solomon's home all lit up. He gets the advanced solar kit with two light bulbs+phone charger

More pictures - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.183456055044959.44015.100001416964107&l=5761913a87