Over the next three years we will be rolling out our energy/lighting system in villages across Tanzania and Namibia. We will launch an initial pilot project in a total of 80 households in the Summer of 2008. Various techniques will be used to promote community participation in the project and this will give the people the experience of ownership.
We are collaborating with the Harvard Institute for Global Health, Living Power Systems, and Le Laboratoire in Paris to launch a three-month pilot study in Tanzania, and subsequent program and technological modifications suggested by that study. We will complete this study using standard LEDs, and emphasize the implementation of the energy system.
We are currently finalists for a $200,000 grant from the World Bank to support an 18-month pilot rollout in Namibia, where we will in partnership with the Namibia Youth Connection Network (www.namibiaconnection.org). Further funding will allow us to complete the transition of our African systems from standard LEDs to PLEDs, and enable the development of our US. European products; a PLED desk lamp, and a PLED camping light. Revenue generated by selling these products will subsidize the development costs of products sold in Africa. Currently, we are seeking funding to complete a more extensive rollout of the system in Tanzania (est. $200,000) as well as funding to extend marketing efforts of our US/European products (est. $300,000).
