tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5051833300556141252024-03-14T11:20:10.062+00:00The ComAfrique-InteliZon InitiativeA SUSTAINABLE Solar Lighting Project. Light up a Village using your Corporate Responsibility - An Initiative devised by ComAfrique - with LIghts from InteliZon and supported by partners like TATA Africa (Senegal) and Western India Cashew Company.
Bringing Light to Africa - An Entrepreneurial initiative from India - in Partnership with AfricaRamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-17931830136774944002013-06-05T11:38:00.001+00:002013-06-05T11:38:12.451+00:002013, 110+ villages and counting5th May, 2013<br />
I firstly must apologise for the lack of updates here.<br />
We have been terribly active and most posts have been on Twitter (@ComfariqueIntel ) and on Facebook ( www.facebook.com/ciinitiative) as well as on our web page ( www.cii.gm) and thus would request readers and followers to please check the above for updates and pictures.<br />
I promise to update this blog as well as often as possible.<br />
<br />
Im sitting in Ziguinchor on my way back from Bissau on a Cashew trip. While I pursue my business, a dedicated team from the Initiative is implementing our 90th village (90 out of 140 villahes) being implemented for the London School of Economics project " Effective Intervention" in Guinea Bissaus Quinara & Tombali regions.<br />
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We have completed 26 villages in The Gambia too and have two more villages to implement. One for the Rotary Club of Quilon, Kerala and in a unique programme, to ensure that two villages supported by the Annecy Sisters in Basse, The Gambia, will be brought under the Initiative, thanks to a sponsorship by MSC Shipping Company. Ms. Mette Oerslund has very benevolently agreed to this sponsorship. The Sisters of Annecy, MSC and we are excited as this is the farthest and remotest region of The Gambia.<br />
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While Rakib and Famara have done far more remote regions in Guinea Bissau, this will be a challenge in The Gambia.<br />
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Will continue to write here and will provide links between the various social networking sites for this Initiative heavily weighed with Corporate and Social Responsibility character.<br />
<br />
Ram Mohan<br />
Ziguinchor, 5th June, 2013RamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-35150660536548409402011-01-25T19:15:00.001+00:002011-01-25T19:24:16.531+00:00innovation - ZONbulb from InteliZON - a Vision of the Future of LightingZONbulb - An Innovation in Rural and Urban Lighting<br />
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For many years, everyone who brought new lighting products to rural areas, designed them on the traditional "lantern". CFL and LED, solar lights - in the form of a Lantern and this always struck me as strange. Why would you want to move forward looking backward? The InteliZON range of products have always looked forward. From the ZonLight TASK Light range to the ZonHome range of home lights followed by Zon Street - the products have always been modern. InteliZons motto "Creating a world of smarter energy" comes clear. Simple yet innovative and forward looking products. And now after extensive research, comes the ZONbulb. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>The Worlds first and most innovative Grid/Solar chargeable Li-ion battery backed up bulb that fits into your existing urban light socket OR can be used in rural areas as a solar light - waiting for the future to catch up with them. And definitely NOT reminding them of the darkness and rudimentary lantern, but showing them the way - the future of all lighting. Environmentally friendly and yet modern. <br />
Capable of being used anywhere. <br />
The image of a Touareg or a Masai villager leaving his Lantern behind and holding a ZONbulb is too vivid an image of development to ignore.<br />
Let India & Africa take the rest of the world to InteliZONs world of smarter energy.<br />
Ram Mohan<br />
The Gambia<br />
January 25th, 2011RamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-22829334923635937002011-01-07T16:06:00.001+00:002011-01-07T16:19:17.101+00:00Albreda & Juffereh Villages Implemented - 27th December, 2010The Villages of Albreda and Juffereh were implemented under the Initiative on 27th December, 2011.<br />
Under the Sponsorship of the U S Embassy Banjul (a sum of GMD 117,600 from the US Ambassadors Self Help Fund) as well as a part Sponsorship by INTELIZON themselves, the ComAfrique-InteliZon Initiative team carried out the Implementation providing a total of 187 Solar ZonLights ( 117 Sponsored by the US Embassy and 70 Sponsored by InteliZon).<br />
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While the inspiration to bring the Initiative to Juffereh and Albreda was due to efforts initially from Tashawna Bethea and the former Ambassador Barry Wells, full credit to current Ambassador White, Deputy Cynthia Gregg and Mr Zacchary Bailey, Political Attache of the US Embassy Banjul who accompanied Mr Janko Fofana and even spent the night at Juffereh during the Implementation. Mr Famara Dampha of ComAfrique conducted the handing over ceremony of the ZonLights to the Village ZonLight Committees of the two villages. Mrs Bailey accompanied the team to witness basic sustainable lights coming to the home of Roots & Kunta Kinteh.<br />
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This brings the Total number of villages sponsored to 11 since we commenced in end 2009.<br />
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A total of 900 Lights affecting the lives of 4,500 rural folk in a sustainable manner is the achievement of the Initiative to date as this Initiative now goes Africa wide.<br />
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Watch this space for more NEWSRamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-6985468329318621102010-12-22T08:45:00.000+00:002010-12-22T08:45:13.983+00:00US Embassy Sponsors ZonLights in Juffereh & AlbredaUnder the US Ambassadors Self Help Scheme, the villagers of Juffereh & Albreda will be beneficiaries of the ComAfrique-Intelizon Initiative. The implementation will be undertaken shortly.RamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-30506185912409178982010-10-30T15:31:00.000+00:002010-10-30T15:31:59.381+00:00TRUST BANK - ComAfrique Implements BUJHILING VILLAGEThe drums and the dancing did not stop till late at Night at Bujhiling Village in THe Gambia, nominated by President Jammeh after TRUST Bank offered to Sponsor the Village under the ComAfrique-InteliZon Initiative..<br />
The Implementation of the ComAfrique-InteliZon Initiative on the 27th of October with Famara Dampha of ComAfrique and representatives of TRUST Bank being welcomed with fervour at sunset. They now have Light - and thats not all. THey have a FUND that is village owned and village run. 72 Lights were distributed to the thrilled recipients. Each will contribute between 1GMD to 3 GMD per Day for their lights and telephone charging lights. This fund will be used to replace batteries and the lights themself. Sustainability in Development.<br />
Pictures and Comments will be posted soon.<br />
xxx<br />
Ram Mohan<br />
ComAfrique-InteliZonRamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-58384526197921805732010-10-16T10:51:00.001+00:002010-10-16T10:54:20.594+00:00Lighting Africa Conference SENEGAL October 2010ComAfrique along with its Senegal partner TATA Africa Senegal - participated in the LIGHTING AFRICA Conference held at the Radisson Blu in Dakar, Senegal on the 6th / 7th of October, 2010.<br />
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While the initial reaction to the initiative was lukewarm, especially under that the impression that the ComAfrique Initiative was just giving lights away free, the response from World Bank officials and organizers changed for the better when they understood that we believe that light should be delivered to the nooks and corners of the world - especially in Africa where governments are unable to do so. Thus Initiatives such as ours, which deliver the means to have light, yet insist that the villagers pay for the light and not the instruments, takes sustainability to a new meaning.<br />
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We continue to believe that while Off Grid Simple Solar Instruments of Light, should be made accessible to all corners of Africa, in a commercial manner, when it comes to providing basic light for rural Africa, the governments and development agencies have a role to play. and if this role is shared by the corporate and private sector, it should be welcomed.<br />
ComAfrique, along with InteliZon are getting their already successful ZonLights and ZonHomes tested by Lighting Africa, and will look forward to a beneficial partnership, where we can add value to Lighting Africa s program.<br />
<br />
Banjul, 16th October, 2010RamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-50779158261584914422010-10-11T15:28:00.002+00:002010-10-11T15:28:28.810+00:00Trust Bank Sponsors a VillageIn response to ComAfriques request, Trust Bank Managing Director, Mr Pa Njie along with his team have graciously offered to sponsor a village under the ComAfrique Initiative. The Office of the President have nominated the village of Bujhilling in the Foni District of The Gambia.<br />
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Watch this space as ComAfrique implement the Initiative in Bujhilling.<br />
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This is Village Number 10 -<br />
10th October, 2010RamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-22833989497012155082010-10-11T15:25:00.000+00:002010-10-11T15:25:59.051+00:00Cashew Business provides another SponsorCashews and Sustainable Light<br />
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In a move towards farmers gaining access to sustainable lighting, ComAfrique have come up with yet another sponsor - a benevolent one who choses to remain known as an associate of ComAfrique.<br />
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ComAfrique have suggested that the President nominate a village in The Gambia and are thus waiting for this nomination.RamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-5465889717751937172010-07-19T13:58:00.001+00:002010-07-19T14:45:36.943+00:00Mr Hari Krishnan Nair - CEO Western India Cashew - Visits TaibathuAn email from Mr HariKrishnan Nair, CEO of Western India Cashew Company - a partner and Sponsor of the ComAfrique-InteliZon Initiative visited Taibathu Village. His visit coincided with the onset of the Monsoons - a very good sign as suggested by the Alkalo of Taibathu. Read his account in his own words - in an emaoil sent to us :-...<br />
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Hi Ram,<br />
<br />
Thank you for the chance..<br />
Regards,<br />
Hari<br />
<br />
From: Hari Krishnan Nair [mailto:hari@wenders.com]<br />
Sent: 19 July 2010 18:47<br />
Subject: Waca Waca Africa<br />
<br />
I've just got back from a hectic trip to West Africa - Guinea Bissau and the Gambia. A major highlight was a visit to Taibatou Village in the Western South Bank of the Gambia.<br />
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The Gambia is an English speaking enclave on both banks of the Gambia river opening out to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by French-speaking Senegal on 3 sides. Taibatou is a dirt-road ride off the main road from Banjul to Sanyang. The village has 80 houses, tin-roofed and plastered-mud walled, in 26 compounds. The people are all farmers, growing cashews also, among other crops - maize, cassava, etc. The children do go to school; there is an Elementary School, and the chieftain spoke surprisingly good English in a<br />
very soft voice. Many of the others also spoke Arabic. <br />
<br />
My company had sponsored Solar lighting for the village and I wanted to actually visit them and see the Project. The sponsored lights belong to the Village Committee and are given out to families on a contributory basis - the house-holds each pay 1-3 Dalasis (4-12 USC) per day to the Committee, which becomes a fund to replace the batteries in 2 years and augment the lights, so that it is sustainable. This expenditure is less than half the cost of candles - 5 Dalasis per room per night. Two or three lights are common property and light up the street in front of the Chief's house where the villagers have their meetings.<br />
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This project is implemented by ComAfrique Ltd., owned by Mr. Ram Mohan, the Hon. Counsel of India in the Gambia, who had started off in business more than a decade ago, supplying cashews to us. <br />
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The rugged solar lights "Zonlight" are made in India, and use the newest technologies: LED lights, Lithium cells and compact solar panels to provide 9-12 hours of light with 3-4 hours of charging. ComAfrique uses local people to scout the villages and implement the projects, keeping costs much lower than when done by<br />
ex-pats. The cost of sponsoring lights for a village is $2,500 to $4,000, depending on the size of the village. If any of you is interested, please visit http://comafrique-intelizon.blogspot.com/, or let me know. I'll also be putting up some photos on Face-book over the next two days.<br />
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It was raining when we landed up at the village at about 11 am. The Village committee was waiting for us and we spent some time in the chief's house. He told me about the difference it had made to them - they can go out in the dark if there is any threat; the children can study longer at night without hurting their eyes; the families can cook and do other chores; no threat of fires from candles... it's been one month and their lives have changed. More people kept coming as the rain abated, and they wanted to shake my hand. The<br />
two teens (boy and girl) who maintain the collection accounts brought out their register and proudly showed me their collection - no delinquencies. <br />
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The chieftain made a small speech of thanks with tears in his and everybody else's eyes. It's a special feeling.<br />
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Cheers!<br />
HariRamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-86733035034361686722010-07-01T13:26:00.001+00:002010-07-01T13:38:23.447+00:00Sitanunku Back Out - TRUST BANK to SPONSOR ANOTHER VILLAGEIn an unfortunate but understandable set back, the Village of Sitanunku have backed out and have opted for their mentor Mr Marcel Hendricks to directly fund a Solar Water Pump rather than sponsor Lights and work on the Loan based on the ComAfrique ZonLight Initiative. While the majority apparently were united in exhibiting their self sustanability and independence on water and light, a few villagers on the committee commented that since the EcoHotel project of Mr Marcel Hendricks would anyway be responsible for providing Light and water to the region, they opted out and preffered to take cash from him rather than implement their own water and light with the ComAfrique Initiative. <br />
However, Trust Bank that had so magnanimously agreed to give the villagers a loan for their Solar Water Project bsed on our Initiative, they have since suggested that they would like to sponsor a village with ZonLights and we await further communication with them.RamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-82282169931205501782010-07-01T13:22:00.000+00:002010-07-01T13:22:22.228+00:00First International Bank ( F I B ) - Two MORE Villages & RURAL Banking ImplementedTHE FIRST INTERNATIONAL BANK (FIB) Have joined the efforts of the ComAfrique-InteliZon Initiative by sponsoring two villages - nominated by His Excellency, President Jammeh. The Villages of Bunuborr and Santaba in the Foni Districts have now been implemented as well.<br />
A total of 101 Lights were given to the Villages at independnt ceremonies by representatives of F I B Bank.<br />
Mr Cyril, Ms Veronica and Mr Abduali of FIB accompanied the Implementation team. A big thanks from ComAfrique-InteliZon to Mr Pa-Ousman Njie and the rest ot the FIB team.<br />
RURAL BANKING services were also intiated with the Kanilai Branch manager of FI B bankvisiting all the other villages in the FONIs where the ZonLight Commitees have already been established.<br />
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Thus this Initiative has now introduced Rural banking as well. The Manager of FIB bank will make monthly visits to each of the villages in the Fonis. Jakoi Gibbirick, Battendeng, Bujhinga, Jirramba, Kallang and now Bunnuborr and Santaba will all be able to bank their ZonLight Funds with FIB at their doorstep.<br />
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This current implementation created the following committees : <br />
BONUBORR VILLAAGE- ZON LIGHT COMMITTEE.<br />
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1. Abdoulai jarju- 7297054.<br />
2. bubacarr jarju- 6362639<br />
3. Fanta Gibba- 7579092<br />
4. Yafai colley- 7222315<br />
5. Alkali Kitim jarju- 7511013<br />
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Number of Lights given- 55 lights<br />
Basic ZonLights- 43, ZonII- 9 and Zonhome- 3<br />
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SANTANBA VILLAGE- ZONLIGHT COMMITTEE<br />
1. Ansumana Bonjang- 7352933<br />
2. Seaka Bonjang-<br />
3. Fatou Jarji- 6336581<br />
4. Omie Jarji<br />
5. Alkali Famara bojang- 6235759.<br />
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Number of light given: 46<br />
Basic ZonLights- 34, ZonLIght II - 9 and Zonhome- 3<br />
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The Implementation Team comprised of the following persons : <br />
ComAfrique- Famara Dampha, Buba Jarju, Buba Driver<br />
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FIB: Mr. Cycril, Ms. Veronica, Mr. Abdulai.<br />
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The Following press persons accompanied the team for the Implementation <br />
Daily Observor- Mr Sheriff Barry<br />
GRTS- Mr. Lamin Saho, Mr. Buba Darboe.RamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-74302006134206205822010-06-02T19:02:00.000+00:002010-06-02T19:02:19.473+00:00WESTERN INDIA CASHEW COMPANY - Sponsors TAIBATU Village in The GambiaWestern India Cashew Company, Kollam, India - a supporter & partner of the ComAfrique Initiative - have just sponsored the Village of Taibatu in the Western Region of The Gambia. This Cashew growing Village is extatic and jubiliant. They have been singing endless praises of Western India Cashew and ComAfrique Limited - for this Social Initiative and thanking President Jammeh for supporting and encouraging such initiatives. We will soon post pictures of the Implementation CeremonyRamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-70508350334487440822010-06-02T18:50:00.000+00:002010-06-02T18:50:33.222+00:00Water for Sitanunku Becoming a Reality - Thanks to Marcel Hendricks and Trust BankLatest Developments are that the Trust Bank board have approved a Loan to the Village Light Committee of Sitanunku for 100,000GMD to enable them to purchase a Solar Water Pump. This Loan reimbursable in Three years with a minimal interest will be given on the basis of a guarantee provided by the Villagers by PLEDGING their ZonLights as Collateral to the Bank as well as undertaking to BANK their Village Light Fund with Trust Bank at their Barra Branch. Letters of Comfort are being provided by Mr Marcel Hendricks, the benevolent sponsor of the ZonLights as well as by ComAfrique Limited. The Implementation of the Lights will be done next Week.<br />
Follow this Blog to see how you can Sponsor a Village too.RamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-45224413263779292562010-04-03T09:27:00.000+00:002010-04-03T09:27:18.819+00:00Getting WATER from SOLAR ZonLights<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The C<b>omAfrique-InteliZon Initiative</b> now shows the Village of <b>Sitanunku</b> how they can have their own self-financed SOLAR Water Pump and Bore Hole.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It all started when Mr Marcel Hendricks took us out to showcase his new ECO Hotel project - On The Gambia River at the famous DOG Island - the village of Sitanunku. A Village that Mr Demba, a resident and co-ordinator of Marcels plans, says has given The Gambia many administrators and thus is a Village quite capable of understanding a developmental effort and sustaining it.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However, when we explained t them that our Initiative was for basic lighting, they requested that the Sponsor kindly address their more urgent needs - WATER. The Villagers suggested that they had to walk miles to get water as they did not have a bore hole. He suggested that once they had WATER with a SOLAR Pump and Bore Hole, they could address the problem of Light for the 80 odd families of SITANUNKU. They had put us in a dilemma since ZonLights and ZonHomes operate on small panels and Li-ion batteries that are not capable of pumping water!!! </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We then came up with an Ingenious Innovative add on to our INITIATIVE</span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Under the ComAfrique-InteliZon Initiative, each family would pay ONE Dalasi (0,04$) per day per Light for a Basic Light</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">However those requesting the Mobile Phone Charging facility of the ZonLight II would have to agree to pay 1.5 Dalasis (0.06$)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And those wanting the Larger ZonHome would have to pay 3 Dalasis ( 0.12 $) </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">They readily Agreed as all these amounts were significantly lower than their Candle requirements.</span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For 80 Lights with 20 Basic ZonLights, 30 ZonLight II and 30 ZonHomes - The Village Light Committee Daily earnings would be 155 Dalasis ( 6.40US$) and thus approx 4,650GMD per Month (180US$) or 2,200US$ per year. A part of this would be spend on Expansion at 10% Lights and Streetlights per year. A Apart would be spend on the Battery replacement every 18-24 months. They would still have a surplus amount in their Fund.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Solar Pump and Bore Hole was budgeted at 100,000GMD by the Village.(Approx 3,700US$)</span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thus if the Village Light Committee wanted, they could use their Village Light Fund to procure their WATER Solution themselves.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Now came in the Role of a partner Bank.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We agreed to rope in a partner bank who would help the Village of Sitanunku bank their ZonLight Fund and provide them with an interest.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One Precondition was that the Bank would - on the basis of a guarantee provided against the Village ZonLight Fund, Provide them with a Loan immediately to acquire their own Bore Hole with SOLAR Pump.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thus in a very innovative way, They will now have light and their Lights will pay for their WATER too.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To make the Water sustainable, the Village Light Committee will impose a minor levy on the use of the Solar Water Pump and Water Consumption to pay for future expansion and maintenance. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The VILLAGE ZONLIGHT COMMITTEE Now becomes the VILLAGE WATER & ZONLIGHT COMMITTEE</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Banks and Corporates : Please help us take this model forward.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The ComAfrique - InteliZon Initiative TEAM</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Innovative - Simple Rural Sustainable Solutions</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">*at the time of posting this blog, negotiations are underway with several banks to implement the village of Sitanunku. Our next post will be to inform you of the full implementation. Thanks. Ram Mohan</span></span>RamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-3094899697735289272010-03-25T14:28:00.000+00:002010-03-25T14:28:07.443+00:00Rural Banking - driven by the ComAfrique-InteliZon InitiativeOur Inititiative got a pleasant boost two weeks ago when I met with Mr Ousman Njie of First International Bank at the Vineyard in The Gambia. A call a few dys later and he was tthere with Mr Ijoma and Mr. Sawaneeh to discus the Initiative and in what way they could participate. While FIB have proposed that they would sponsor two villages in the Foni District of The Gambia, they came forward with a unique proposal to assist the villagers in the Foni's bank the Village ZonLight Fund. With this unique proposal, F I B have opened a gateway for villagers to understanding savings - in addition to managing their own lights.<br />
F I B have proposed to depute their Bank Manager in the Foni's to each of the villages that have a Village ZonLight Fund, provide them with a Safe Box and on a monthly basis bank the amount for them. Thats NOT all. They will also give the village an inerest on the deposits.<br />
We commend F I B for participating in this Initiative.<br />
Their participation has opened new avenues to the Initiative.<br />
Ram MohanRamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-68991733494008987852010-01-16T12:03:00.000+00:002010-03-24T20:31:47.223+00:00The ComAfrique InteliZon Initiative - Sustainability in Lighting Up Rural Villages - Implementation Report<span style="font-size: large;">The ComAfrique InteliZon Initiative: ‘Light Up a Village’ with ZonLight</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><strong>Implementation Report </strong></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Initiative commenced in The Gambia, with ComAfrique offering to sponsor one Village and TATA Africa responding with an offer to sponsor another with ZonLights and ZonHomes. These offers were sent to the Office of the President who responded immediately and very favourably, offered to also sponsor two villages. The Villages named by His Excellency, Sheikh Prof. Alhagi Dr. Yahya A J J Jammeh to be sponsored by ComAfrique and TATA Africa- Safari Motors were respectively </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. Jakoi Gibbirick ( Foni District) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. Battendeng ( Foni Bintang District)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">And those to be sponsored by His Excellency were</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. Bujingha ( Foni Kansala District) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. Jirramba ( Foni Kansala District)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On 29th December 2009, the ComAfrique team along with Mr Omar Gibba (Dy. Chief of Protocol, Office of the President, made an initial survey of the 4 villages. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On the 4th of January, 2010, ComAfrique Limited invited representatives of the 4 villages to explain the implementation procedure. In consultation with the Dy. Chief of Protocol, dates for the final implementation were fixed.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">From January 8th to the 11th, ComAfrique team comprising of Mr Nfamara Dampha, Mr Mustapha Njie, and Mr Ram Mohan driven by Mr Modou Bah with Mr Sheriff Sowe of Safari Motors (TATA Representative) and accompanied by GRTS Reporter Mr Ebrima Jatta and cameraperson Mr Joof undertook the implementation of the first four villages.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Implementation team decided that it would be ideal to do all villages on one trip, spending one night in each of the villages, thereby giving us an opportunity to experience the effect of the lights in the villages. Our experience has been overwhelming.</div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5J1GdvrOawxeS1XpzRlRGonAjN9EIUyns81vNC3RSEP1zseU3fUjFHmcbsHMVDIeof-sbejKoSCL5GIukrzXQckjxrl8AcXVHSfepAkKETVlNMtEihsxtAZG6F-h8Mpi9AKBdlqFum4tF/s1600-h/IMG_3166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5J1GdvrOawxeS1XpzRlRGonAjN9EIUyns81vNC3RSEP1zseU3fUjFHmcbsHMVDIeof-sbejKoSCL5GIukrzXQckjxrl8AcXVHSfepAkKETVlNMtEihsxtAZG6F-h8Mpi9AKBdlqFum4tF/s320/IMG_3166.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">ComAfrique Gambia Team with TATA Africa / Safari Motors Team set out to Implement the</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong>ComAfrique Initiative “LIGHT UP A VILLAGE” with ZonLight </strong></div><div style="text-align: center;">4 Villages in the Fonis – January 8th to January 11th, 2010 </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DIKUv6l0-h1vAqaTd0AkKidaI3m2UDITNQjhFI9P0Jj8DPWwG_wK0DlTTEQXzfgnD-FhTESfCdsZweKQ6x1bBYfwfrgm7ZXyKeMY8frzvqspO-s-nR0yuFZ-lE1zkYkoIkvr0zFZ5f_0/s1600-h/IMG_3763.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DIKUv6l0-h1vAqaTd0AkKidaI3m2UDITNQjhFI9P0Jj8DPWwG_wK0DlTTEQXzfgnD-FhTESfCdsZweKQ6x1bBYfwfrgm7ZXyKeMY8frzvqspO-s-nR0yuFZ-lE1zkYkoIkvr0zFZ5f_0/s320/IMG_3763.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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<strong>JAKOI GIBBIRICK</strong>( Sponsored by ComAfrique Limited): Jan 8th / 9th: <br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">A Very Warm reception was accorded by the Alkalo’s representative, Mr Backary Jarju. Our First activity was requesting them to set up the Village ZonLight Committee.</div><br />
VILLAGE STATISTICS (Provided by Village Alkalo and Representatives)<br />
Number of Compounds : 38 <br />
Houses : 54 <br />
Population <br />
Total : 1010 (Men : 310 Women : 500 Children : 200)<br />
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Average spending per Month on Candles per Family 300 GMD <br />
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<strong>Jakoi Village ZonLight Committee </strong><br />
Ebou Gibba<br />
Salimina Jarju<br />
Adama Sanneh <br />
Alkalo Representative - Backary Jarju<br />
Alkalo : Seikou Jarju<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">The Committee agreed that the village would participate in the sustainability programme of 1 Dalasi per day per Light. The full village was asked to gather in front of the Alkalis compound at sunset. We set up a demonstration Street Light and a work table around which the ZonLights and ZonHomes for distribution were arranged. A list was drawn up with village compound representatives’ names and the number of lights to be given to each compound. This was worked out on the basis of the number of individuals living in each compound.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ceremony began with prayers followed by a demonstration of the operation and durability of the lights. Thereafter the Initiatives Sustainability Program was explained – especially how important the 1 Dalasi payment was. Villagers were allowed to ask questions and clear doubts. Then the actual presentation began. Each Compound leader was called out by name. On being given the designated number of lights, they were publicly asked if they accepted to pay the Village ZonLight Committee a sum of ONE Dalasi per Light per Day. They were also told that in case of default they would accept that the Committee was empowered to take back a light and re-issue the light to any other. Amidst a lot of cheering, each compound head came forward, took the lights, signed receipt and adherence to pay the 1 Dalasi per Light per Day. Great excitement followed as each compound member then lit up their lights. The GRTS Camera crew too were amazed that the ZonLights were used for their filming as well. The entire evening was only powered by solar ZonLights. No big expenses were made for the ceremony and a cost effective program was initiated with a bright yet cost effective spirit. 71 Lights were distributed in Jakoi as detailed below</div><br />
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JAKOI GIBBIRICK Number Value (GMD)<br />
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TOTAL LIGHTS GIVEN 71 (worth 77,000 GMD)<br />
ZonLight Basic 57 (57,000 )<br />
ZonLight II 10 (12,000 )<br />
ZonHome 4 (8,000 )<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDanTChF4I7QQzGcCbC8pR5uLa__m1uy6xukJMdMSGQU4BBZXANAQmXiOhEDEwntztV66R5lNZT4yssoDxbBAL9tDVX0ng4PA7_J40NUvmzCULJ2aKR7bwKLyUZtjOiVOvVldeSkHTtLz/s1600-h/IMG_3220.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDanTChF4I7QQzGcCbC8pR5uLa__m1uy6xukJMdMSGQU4BBZXANAQmXiOhEDEwntztV66R5lNZT4yssoDxbBAL9tDVX0ng4PA7_J40NUvmzCULJ2aKR7bwKLyUZtjOiVOvVldeSkHTtLz/s400/IMG_3220.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">JAKOI Villagers Gather around a Demo Zon Streetlight for the Handing over Ceremony of ZonLights & ZonHomes</span></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguf17Z0VAZsP_0R4HvpdP7Bw7QeRJ0WMItWlAjl1pqc5ht02KC3xIdCyM3WLesnKTX5XzdJP6Try0L556OtO539dPlJKu8hcEoLD4DrzaNzbf4E3g0AKN6D-b0lEoVn6M36pFQmxI5tty_/s1600-h/IMG_3223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguf17Z0VAZsP_0R4HvpdP7Bw7QeRJ0WMItWlAjl1pqc5ht02KC3xIdCyM3WLesnKTX5XzdJP6Try0L556OtO539dPlJKu8hcEoLD4DrzaNzbf4E3g0AKN6D-b0lEoVn6M36pFQmxI5tty_/s400/IMG_3223.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Mr Nfamara Dampha demonstrates ZonLight to the Jakoi ZonLight Committee and to the Villagers while Mustafa Njie looks on</span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGSnXcAos7vLO3c7gJZHhQcaO9xBwAGtPsieMa1mZrBKQXbNBtj5elFIwdCMkOhd_6v-wKQHjJlRzycBHx8w8oWHbqX92DxTvbzUQAjRsNjFbenUfhjf9UIg3SoSQmo8z008LA3cLpAWI/s1600-h/IMG_3237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicGSnXcAos7vLO3c7gJZHhQcaO9xBwAGtPsieMa1mZrBKQXbNBtj5elFIwdCMkOhd_6v-wKQHjJlRzycBHx8w8oWHbqX92DxTvbzUQAjRsNjFbenUfhjf9UIg3SoSQmo8z008LA3cLpAWI/s400/IMG_3237.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Village recipient of ZonLights Signs acceptance to pay Village ZONLIGHT Committee Sustainability fee of 1 Dalasi per Light per Day</span></div><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">This included ZonHomes for the Alkalo residence as well as for the Mosque, School Head and the Medical Centre.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The presentation ended with prayers to the Almighty and with thanks being showered on His Excellency, President Jammeh for encouraging the initiative from ComAfrique and to ComAfrique for their Light up a Village with ZonLight Initiative. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A Certificate of Implementation of the Initiative was signed by the ComAfrique Team as well as by the Village ZonLight Committee and witnessed by the Alkalo. A copy of this certificate is attached.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The entire ComAfrique team and the GRTS crew slept late that night while Jakoi Gibbirick cheered the entry of simple lights into their lives. The hospitality in Villages that we have seen has been in true reciprocity to the nature of the event. Each member of the team was housed with one of the families.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ComAfrique and GRTS team then left the following morning to Battendeng.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;">BATTENDENG VILLAGE (Foni Bintang District) Sponsored by TATA Africa-Safari Motors) – 9th /10th January, 2010</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>VILLAGE STATISTICS (Provided by Alkalo and Representative)</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Number of Compounds : 8 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Houses : 41 </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Population </strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Total : 134 (Men-55 Women-39 Children-40)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Average spending per Month on Candles per Home 300 GMD </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Battendeng Village ZonLight Committee</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Jainaba Jammeh </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sajo Jarju </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Seaka Badjie </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alkalo : Borry Jammeh </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsU5WIuBZWiPuy3Xc8f2fqSl5rC2HEMq03F-prSMicguwVbLhArXVgRES45epGXzx-kBenp3fXIKvlKIkTRk5bob354Di3bWXiR7orRd6x4vF2DsIVdxhruY4p8DUQPkPkSGWtjhjAlH_/s1600-h/IMG_3404.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnsU5WIuBZWiPuy3Xc8f2fqSl5rC2HEMq03F-prSMicguwVbLhArXVgRES45epGXzx-kBenp3fXIKvlKIkTRk5bob354Di3bWXiR7orRd6x4vF2DsIVdxhruY4p8DUQPkPkSGWtjhjAlH_/s400/IMG_3404.JPG" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">ComAfriques Modou Bah, Mustafa Njie, Nfamara Damfa & Sheriff Sowe prepare ZonLights at Battendeng</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEcmtwkdfRKxbdMMX95AGWIJ_Fs3eVOS5huB6sY8bus3CEk5MsDm6kwkKzLMMP_sN4SqwQ3yzTn_ZgpCbw9cXjyOj5953qpt256ANaLG3Y9d_F4QbgozwuF1Zfv_JTcrUSyL7Bo-baIkg/s1600-h/IMG_3431.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEcmtwkdfRKxbdMMX95AGWIJ_Fs3eVOS5huB6sY8bus3CEk5MsDm6kwkKzLMMP_sN4SqwQ3yzTn_ZgpCbw9cXjyOj5953qpt256ANaLG3Y9d_F4QbgozwuF1Zfv_JTcrUSyL7Bo-baIkg/s400/IMG_3431.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Battendeng Village Housewife Cleaning Rice under ZonLight</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">A much smaller village than Jakoi, but with the same big enthusiasm. This village designated by His Excellency, President Jammeh, was sponsored by TATA Africa-Safari Motors. With 8 Compounds, 59 Lights were distributed to a very excited village. The Alkalo and villages sang songs in praise His Excellency, President Jammeh. They sang for TATA Africa – Safari Motors and thanked ComAfrique for the initiative.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">The Alkalos residence, The Village Mosque as well as the night Koranic school benefited with having ZonHomes allocated.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">The lights provided was as follows</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">BATTENDENG VILLAGE Number & Value (GMD)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">TOTAL LIGHTS GIVEN : 59 (64,000GMD) </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">ZonLight Basic : 46 (46,000) </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">ZonLight II : 10 (12,000)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;">ZonHome 3 (6,000)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1qc95WQHUeb8Xp8sPpYDbjAGQHFiNAXNDLUmCgULzajM5xi8UnUWuXPDbHK5qrEU_qI1Y75jOQxfZCgCgDDJMuKEP2_ddF2k3AX-nZnM8WUU6eFv4arUTTuZFJ_p4_cdPorm3bS5IeMC/s1600-h/IMG_3551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1qc95WQHUeb8Xp8sPpYDbjAGQHFiNAXNDLUmCgULzajM5xi8UnUWuXPDbHK5qrEU_qI1Y75jOQxfZCgCgDDJMuKEP2_ddF2k3AX-nZnM8WUU6eFv4arUTTuZFJ_p4_cdPorm3bS5IeMC/s400/IMG_3551.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Villagers Celebrate under ZonLight - The Arrival of Sustainable Light in Battendeng</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJYao7BZa_c3tpl8MsY_4tUO73os9ZuWab98sAsJRs7o_242lOe3oPFr-c01YMGK6NOgrM4HGTYb8S8vrifoqOJwfSOmdAvmKZb5C0a0J2y7kRC7BXLt6AwlyKF9NMa7snqulj0NgpGMH/s1600-h/IMG_3494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJYao7BZa_c3tpl8MsY_4tUO73os9ZuWab98sAsJRs7o_242lOe3oPFr-c01YMGK6NOgrM4HGTYb8S8vrifoqOJwfSOmdAvmKZb5C0a0J2y7kRC7BXLt6AwlyKF9NMa7snqulj0NgpGMH/s400/IMG_3494.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Sheriff Sowe of Safari Motors - Representing TATA Africa - Hands over ZonLights to a Battendeng Village member</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"></span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprv7rnjjomKtfcdH0SlJBaM5UnsEcTe6t4cIy05CWmH8qcdFAk8EDS_1XOlMMLod62OzrmhM0zhToRaQyKJvinMYRu9o27duKhi5itC7dRPnkkCudznMFKRt6sqYCuwtHPk2UYsljEkP1/s1600-h/IMG_3548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprv7rnjjomKtfcdH0SlJBaM5UnsEcTe6t4cIy05CWmH8qcdFAk8EDS_1XOlMMLod62OzrmhM0zhToRaQyKJvinMYRu9o27duKhi5itC7dRPnkkCudznMFKRt6sqYCuwtHPk2UYsljEkP1/s400/IMG_3548.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Alkalo of Battendeng, Mr Borry Jammeh sings a Song thanking President Jammeh </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A Certificate of Implementation of the Initiative was signed by the ComAfrique Team as well as by the Village ZonLight Committee and witnessed by the Alkalo. A copy of this certificate is attached.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Alkalo Borry Jammeh Handing the Certification of Implementation to Ram Mohan</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzEFLBASpjoz9BxC2ilZfQeJUBRNKwSBHtFbzgZZLD5Jc7fsIaBTaGC0qqX7Gip36pi-XW9-JM44T4RadXJfMRMudJb88SBZpYQ0HY3YLzbL8VVAlbX0taBNhTItd1BQZIM960U_lY0g9/s1600-h/IMG_3537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzEFLBASpjoz9BxC2ilZfQeJUBRNKwSBHtFbzgZZLD5Jc7fsIaBTaGC0qqX7Gip36pi-XW9-JM44T4RadXJfMRMudJb88SBZpYQ0HY3YLzbL8VVAlbX0taBNhTItd1BQZIM960U_lY0g9/s400/IMG_3537.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">We trust that he will not have any further use for that Torch :-) </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The following morning the team thanked the hosts for their hospitality and left for the village of Bujingha in Foni Kansala District.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>BUJINGHA VILLAGE</strong> (Foni Kansala District) (Sponsored by His Excellency, President Jammeh) - 10th / 11th January, 2010</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A right turn before the Bwiam Hospital, and a few kilometres drive brings you to the village of Bujingha. A very well organised representative of the Alkalo, Mr. Modou Bojang met the team and immediately set about organising his Village ZonLight Committee.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>VILLAGE STATISTICS</strong> (Provided by Village Alkalo and Representative)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Number of Compounds 25 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Houses 133 </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Population ( Including Children) <br />
Total : 317 (Male: 167 Female: 150)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Average spending per Month on Candles per Home 300 GMD </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6_0nSmYmfIcgiSQlAAzUxeZ85xgN_caY7xcVmF4gs6RjVTATl-xBuJVFdtXqOdY0tEdW4jYIh8LG3_axi79jd0YW5njwtoK_ALHTAO2bAyAotPS_m01KOm66k2IBtX1HhEaV7Ae3Btep/s1600-h/IMG_3656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW6_0nSmYmfIcgiSQlAAzUxeZ85xgN_caY7xcVmF4gs6RjVTATl-xBuJVFdtXqOdY0tEdW4jYIh8LG3_axi79jd0YW5njwtoK_ALHTAO2bAyAotPS_m01KOm66k2IBtX1HhEaV7Ae3Btep/s400/IMG_3656.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bujingha Imam leads prayers while Alkalo Representative Modou Bojang, ComAfrique Nfamara Damfa and M Njie with the Village ZonLight Committee pray</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Bujingha Village ZonLight Committee</strong> <br />
Modou L Bojang - Alkalo Representative </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Binta Bojang</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Baboucar Jarju</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alkalo : Seikou Bojang </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGa_zbv0It-mJWhcy6wpq_2x7Ehh37wvxTXR6LUv2NXObUvrmA254SQvO10NeuSpyvPAexTYfdc-FG6gWdT_l5lYEu4uY2wddW1IFMPZSBesJfe1GiuVMroXmuisfMKGz0ihyphenhyphenyDme0dGYt/s1600-h/IMG_3724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGa_zbv0It-mJWhcy6wpq_2x7Ehh37wvxTXR6LUv2NXObUvrmA254SQvO10NeuSpyvPAexTYfdc-FG6gWdT_l5lYEu4uY2wddW1IFMPZSBesJfe1GiuVMroXmuisfMKGz0ihyphenhyphenyDme0dGYt/s400/IMG_3724.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Bujingha Alkalo Mr Seikou Bojang Hands over Certificate of Implementation to Ram Mohan of ComAfrique</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nN5MLsEZU3dYBfMAAds8IBNPhvubmkZDPO0z3Hv4I4L5IZb4jCz0_KHomteAzKl-5MHCzas4czb5K4bxGuuNyaW3D8w6ryiuW4qJN9vJeyAYF8E00NqAV3amv2WBtwSUWXx4fCKcuYJ4/s1600-h/IMG_3737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8nN5MLsEZU3dYBfMAAds8IBNPhvubmkZDPO0z3Hv4I4L5IZb4jCz0_KHomteAzKl-5MHCzas4czb5K4bxGuuNyaW3D8w6ryiuW4qJN9vJeyAYF8E00NqAV3amv2WBtwSUWXx4fCKcuYJ4/s400/IMG_3737.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Village Children in Bujingha Studying under ZonLights</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This village was all the more excited because H E, President Jammeh had personally sponsored as well as selected the village. They understood the seriousness of the sponsorship and this was seen in their attitude – very positive.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Ceremony began as usual with a prayer of thanks and loud cheering marked every household as their representative received the designated lights. The simplicity of the lights and yet the effect they have were constant reminders of how important light is. The ComAfrique team helped install the ZonHomes in the Alkalos residence as well as the Mosque. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Details of the Lights provided:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>BUJINGHA VILLAGE</strong> Number & Value (GMD)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">TOTAL LIGHTS GIVEN : 71 (78,600 GMD)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ZonLight Basic : 45 (45,000)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ZonLight II : 23 (27,600)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ZonHome : 3 (6,000) </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A Certificate of Implementation of the Initiative was signed by the ComAfrique Team as well as by the Village ZonLight Committee and witnessed by the Alkalo. A copy of this certificate is attached.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Hospitality here was at a peak demonstrating the appreciation of the arrival of the Implementation team. The ComAfrique and GRTS team then left for the village of JIRRAMBA.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>JIRRAMBA VILLAGE</strong> (Foni Kansala District) (Sponsored by His Excellency, President Jammeh) – 11th January, 2010.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>VILLAGE STASTICS</strong> (Provided by the Alkalo representative)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Number of Compounds : 29 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Houses : 236 </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Population (including children) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Total : 331 (Male :164 Female : 167)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Average spending per Month on Candles per Home 300 GMD </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRFSdPRC9Jv0B8cPTFhmKeYnWZpN3K5ZKdzCbhh5o0dNzjiXw2UQ9sckGFl_1njzA8Sf0lZQ8vdFlwpnaGz0CwZ3DxkZ51FU1kxuP26VgDlNjs_bhORN2NSITAvGhdOTjG5w3lYu7gbBM/s1600-h/IMG_3814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRFSdPRC9Jv0B8cPTFhmKeYnWZpN3K5ZKdzCbhh5o0dNzjiXw2UQ9sckGFl_1njzA8Sf0lZQ8vdFlwpnaGz0CwZ3DxkZ51FU1kxuP26VgDlNjs_bhORN2NSITAvGhdOTjG5w3lYu7gbBM/s400/IMG_3814.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">ComAfrique Dampha, Bah, Njie assisted by the Imam of Jirramba – arrange the ZonLights for Charging before handing over</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKz-DGjxxMSeqc3bzLz0qGlfgPHwInRnv1-cfRRgXi-Ub-Buo11bb3CsdJnpzqQZB_tK_logLM5wla7qkU4w4rwywyZjcJf7looHDk0jyRPCKi75ofGr7wygVRRoJMg9VP_29XOuCl8mPd/s1600-h/IMG_3796.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKz-DGjxxMSeqc3bzLz0qGlfgPHwInRnv1-cfRRgXi-Ub-Buo11bb3CsdJnpzqQZB_tK_logLM5wla7qkU4w4rwywyZjcJf7looHDk0jyRPCKi75ofGr7wygVRRoJMg9VP_29XOuCl8mPd/s640/IMG_3796.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Cheer that the ZonLights and the team brought to Jirramba and the other villages was worth much more than anything else</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A few Kilometres after Bwiam, a left turn and a couple of kilometres brought us to this fairly large village. Sidi Gibba, the very young son of Alkalo Mr Jerreh Gibba was our point of contact. We wanted to attempt a day time ceremony to enable the GRTS crew to return to Banjul to cover other engagements. However the hospitality and the enthusiasm of the villagers made us stay back and implement this village too in the evening. A Large and diverse Village ZonLight Committee was selected.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Jirramba Village ZonLight Committee</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Sidi Gibba </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Baboucar Jarju </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Fatou Badgie</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Njougou Jarju </div><div style="text-align: justify;">Alkalo : Jerreh Gibba </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHAi3dk3EfYTW1fgZOOEmwjqjId5F0B3lXViN4SVa2HjYaWEju1nl8oc8IgV4dWSLig-Km8W-pFe5QGTb39E6qzdWP11FgJHcWETQBlMjE1rOpAuH-Kl7q4aQ75OmWrFt0jjzIAGPZ2q_/s1600-h/IMG_3820.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHAi3dk3EfYTW1fgZOOEmwjqjId5F0B3lXViN4SVa2HjYaWEju1nl8oc8IgV4dWSLig-Km8W-pFe5QGTb39E6qzdWP11FgJHcWETQBlMjE1rOpAuH-Kl7q4aQ75OmWrFt0jjzIAGPZ2q_/s400/IMG_3820.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Village elders of Jirramba show their appreciation welcoming Ram Mohan and the team from ComAfrique</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXfJHDHXqYCqC8tUzFbtsamSnOyb9HECOsSvizChAUMoX4StQ9rl5ydZI4KyPMVGvjx54a14o6_ViurS4L2kae13eAkGfZSDtvIDnUXjyEjL79Afe5xXMhwSNqdKcOlh_DR-mgSA6cUaO/s1600-h/IMG_3848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxXfJHDHXqYCqC8tUzFbtsamSnOyb9HECOsSvizChAUMoX4StQ9rl5ydZI4KyPMVGvjx54a14o6_ViurS4L2kae13eAkGfZSDtvIDnUXjyEjL79Afe5xXMhwSNqdKcOlh_DR-mgSA6cUaO/s400/IMG_3848.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Nfamara Dampha listens to a Villager of Jirramba while the Alkalo, Mustafa Njie and the Village Committee listen.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZS1ljmEURTunx6X40hj0XNzCFoGABCIAcqlbx1rk5CetffuuFKojmQoX2uiMot0SXp7uNiW0ClEpctOXmDuGoGl25Jw1UvvWEON12cE7FXkoabdtq8lUmW3_tT8fgnLwnTkVqmRtyA3AA/s1600-h/IMG_3954.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZS1ljmEURTunx6X40hj0XNzCFoGABCIAcqlbx1rk5CetffuuFKojmQoX2uiMot0SXp7uNiW0ClEpctOXmDuGoGl25Jw1UvvWEON12cE7FXkoabdtq8lUmW3_tT8fgnLwnTkVqmRtyA3AA/s400/IMG_3954.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Eager Jirramba mother signs for her ZonLight agreeing to pay 1 Dalasi to the Village ZonLight Fund assisted by Mustafa Njie</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fwKbLK-RsDLYuubnMESYC7Bzp3o5DtwE653CX5gY3J_QSbNrMHwKAY4VpUzGaDUTBzWA7_Od1W0NyE_-QUNF4uVWXbaNlQ8tLxw9e45JKDFReYwyRnYHRnRkodJeLzxxsYXngODVfh6f/s1600-h/IMG_3930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fwKbLK-RsDLYuubnMESYC7Bzp3o5DtwE653CX5gY3J_QSbNrMHwKAY4VpUzGaDUTBzWA7_Od1W0NyE_-QUNF4uVWXbaNlQ8tLxw9e45JKDFReYwyRnYHRnRkodJeLzxxsYXngODVfh6f/s400/IMG_3930.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Happy Jirramba Villager with her ZonLights</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">This village seemed a far more affluent village with several vehicles driving past and all children neatly dressed in school uniforms. Yet the absence of light and the excitement among young and old alike gave one a feeling that this was really important to them. Families that did not have compounds as yet, wanted to sign up and take lights – willing to pay the ONE Dalasi per Light in advance. Reactions have been very energising for all of us. We are determined to take this further. In a very heart warming gesture, the village of Jirramba even wanted to take an additional ZonHome for the neighbouring village Mosque.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Details of ZonLights and ZonHomes provided in Jirramba:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>JIRRAMBA</strong> Number & Value (GMD)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">TOTAL LIGHTS GIVEN : 72 (80,800GMD) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">ZonLight Basic : 40 (40,000)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ZonLight II : 29 (34,800) </div><div style="text-align: justify;">ZonHome : 3 (6,000)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">At the end of the ceremony, the Certificate of Implementation of the Initiative was signed by the ComAfrique Team as well as by the Village ZonLight Committee and witnessed by the Alkalo. A copy of this certificate is attached.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">**************</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Thus came to the end of a very exhilarating trip and the beginning of a long voyage for ComAfrique, where we will endeavour to attract more sponsors with participation from ComAfrique as well. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ComAfrique have assured each village that they will sponsor ONE Rural Street Light to Each Village being sponsored (at 6,000GMD each). This light can be mounted in a central place in the Village. The Village ZonLight Committee will be responsible to find a manner to make this light sustainable as well. These will be installed as soon as they arrive and the housings are fabricated in The Gambia.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">To summarize the efforts of our team, please find below what the first four sponsorships of 4 (Four) Villages have yielded</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>TOTAL SUMMARY</strong> Number & Value in GMD</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Total Lights Given : 277 (324,400 GMD)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ZonLight Basic : 188 (188,000)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ZonLight II : 72 (86,400)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ZonHome : 13 (26,000)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Zon StreetLight* : 4 (24,000)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">A Break up of Corporate and HE President Jammehs Sponsorships is below</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP</strong> Number & Valuein GMD</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Total Lights Given : 132 (153,000 GMD)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ZonLight Basic : 103 (103,000)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ZonLight II 20 (24,000)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ZonHome 7 (14,000)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Zon StreetLight* 2 (12,000)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>HE PRESIDENTs SPONSORSHIP</strong> Number & Value in GMD</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Total Lights Given : 145 (171,400GMD)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ZonLight Basic : 85 (85,000)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ZonLight II : 52 (62,400)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ZonHome : 6 (12,000)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Zon StreetLight* : 2 (12,000)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">* The ZonStreet Lights are yet to be assembled and will be put up and sponsored by ComAfrique Gambia Limited</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ComAfrique Limited would also like to mention that the ZonHomes are now being assembled in The Gambia. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The ComAfrique Team would like to profusely thank His Excellency, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A J J Jammeh for the immense support given in implementing this Initiative. We would like to believe that this is only the beginning and that we will work towards getting more sponsors for ZonLights and ZonHomes in villages to make rural Gambia energy independent and bright. We would like to thank the Office of the President, Secretary General, Government of The Gambia, Mr Omar Gibba (Dy Chief of Protocol) and the Director of GRTS Mr M Sanyang as well as the very enthusiastic and hard working GRTS team of Mr Ebrima Jatta and Mr Joof. Our thanks also go for the encouragement given by the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Petroleum and PURA for giving us moral support to move ahead. Our profound gratitude goes to Mr Sumeet Tank of TATA Africa and to Mr H R Aswani and Mr. Ram Aswani of Right Choice Supermarket who have also taken the cause in sponsoring villages. And of course we cannot but thank the people of The Gambia without whose support, no sustainable project could ever move ahead.<br />
Ofcourse - Finally we thank our partners and the developers of this wonderful technology, InteliZon and Dr Kushant Uppal for thse wonderful inventions that will transform dark corners of the globe into brightness.<br />
We thank Mr Har Krishnan Nair of Western India Cashew Company who has involved himself with this project in Africa.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ram Mohan</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Managing Director – ComAfrique Limited</div><div style="text-align: justify;">On Behalf of the ZonLight Implementation Team of ComAfrique</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mr Nfamara Dampha</div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><div style="text-align: justify;">**********</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0_EjrKLq6mviMas5e-RsgPrMQdLhw93Hrw_Wk7jg4kP4gZ9wqywjXk8U1jPgpv9bSoAvfWz_w7jssrptKNM42dPgBdKkv3AbnkrMVbK1PUwq3AEj8VKU0DGW9UwHKq3RoZO8tE7Ekd8R/s1600-h/IMG_3980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh0_EjrKLq6mviMas5e-RsgPrMQdLhw93Hrw_Wk7jg4kP4gZ9wqywjXk8U1jPgpv9bSoAvfWz_w7jssrptKNM42dPgBdKkv3AbnkrMVbK1PUwq3AEj8VKU0DGW9UwHKq3RoZO8tE7Ekd8R/s400/IMG_3980.JPG" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Several ZonLights Fixed on a strip makes a wonderful Flood Light for Rural Meetings</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><img height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP1qc95WQHUeb8Xp8sPpYDbjAGQHFiNAXNDLUmCgULzajM5xi8UnUWuXPDbHK5qrEU_qI1Y75jOQxfZCgCgDDJMuKEP2_ddF2k3AX-nZnM8WUU6eFv4arUTTuZFJ_p4_cdPorm3bS5IeMC/s640/IMG_3551.JPG" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 396px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 4867px; visibility: hidden;" width="96" /> </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>RamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-505183330055614125.post-2800027675113487122009-10-03T09:03:00.002+00:002010-03-26T16:53:29.109+00:00Simple Solar Lighting Systems<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmkvivlTOUASUctWZcSDiMhLcZHECSEYX_LUVws4dY3CoK6dmRJx2XvlOuTqF39mP7ren-YVYJyTo37mNy2N5qgbKfGVoCZEpWU-rdidSwiMOMT7_D8La55fT2Jl0C6OsavEumhcF_FyE/s1600-h/Zon+New+Advert+Landscape.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388309451832255330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdmkvivlTOUASUctWZcSDiMhLcZHECSEYX_LUVws4dY3CoK6dmRJx2XvlOuTqF39mP7ren-YVYJyTo37mNy2N5qgbKfGVoCZEpWU-rdidSwiMOMT7_D8La55fT2Jl0C6OsavEumhcF_FyE/s320/Zon+New+Advert+Landscape.jpg" style="cursor: hand; display: block; height: 226px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
I live in The Gambia. The Smiling and Sunny Coast of Africa – The land of beaches, a river and abundant sun… well, that’s if Global Warming doesn’t have its way. Most common buzz words heard these days - Global Warming, Greenhouse Gases, Carbon Footprints, Renewable Energy, Climate Change etc. keep echoing in our ears. The moment there’s an unscheduled rain, or an extremely hot or cold day – most of us turn into environmental experts – “its Global warming” is the immediate synopsis. <br />
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Well, it took me a long time to understand these terms. I couldn’t figure out how Global Warming could make us feel cold. How it caused floods. How cattle could influence global warming. But today I am wiser. I ask sensibly, ‘Is a candle eco-friendly?’ Is holding a conference on Global Warming in Denmark, with 15,000 delegates, each one liberally burning carbon to get there, an ideal method to discus reduction of emission of greenhouse gasses?<br />
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I, and probably 99% of this worlds sensible netizens have slowly but surely realized that Global warming is something that will not go away easily. Yet most of us don’t do anything about it. Me included.<br />
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Well until recently. <br />
And my tryst with eco-friendliness happened by chance.<br />
It was, when, as a partial diplomat, I was on one of my trips to India, my second home. (The Gambia has been my first home since 1998). I was browsing the markets (the old fashioned way - taking flights, making telephone calls, riding taxis, calling friends etc). I was looking for appropriate rural technologies that we could bring from India to Africa. I did find some innovative water purifiers and leaf cup and plate making machines. And this was when I stumbled upon a Solar Task Light. To be honest it was the Solar Task Light that stumbled on me!! It was given to me as a gift. A SOLAR TASK light? Barely understanding what it was, I almost left it behind as an unwanted bulky, vital-airline-baggage-allowance-consuming TORCH. A last minute power cut while packing my bags in Chennai, reminded me of our unscheduled power cuts in The Gambia and the TASK Light found a place to snuggle in my luggage. <br />
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Back in The Gambia….. Voila, the first power cut back at home and out came the ZonLight. And it did save us that night. What surprised me even more was that this gadget was still ‘ON’ when we woke up in the morning.....after 9 hours!!! Noticing the Solar panel on the Yellow object, I figured out that I had to get it into the sun to charge. (Remember – for want of baggage allowance, I'd left the operation manual and the carton in India). I left it out in the sun. In the evening I noticed that it had started flashing like a camera flashbulb. Worried, I returned my ZonLight to the safety of indoors. That evening, after waiting eagerly for the sun to leave, I put it ON at night once again, inquisitively, waking up at hourly intervals to see if it was still on. NAWEC didn’t go off that night – and neither did the ZonLight. The results were the same. Almost 10 hours of Light this time.!! I then did the first thing I did with all my toys in my younger days ... I took it apart. Fiddled with it until it didn’t work!!! ...well at least I thought it didn't work. I now needed to find out how I could lay my hands on another and there started my quest to get in touch with the manufacturer. What energized my search was that on another day I was actually able to put all the pieces back together and VOILA it worked again. I had become hooked onto the amazing piece of technology I was holding. And thereby started my tryst with ZonLight and “Eco-friendliness”.<br />
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To get to the point of this long story, I now import these ZonLight Solar Task Lights. Together with Intelizon's Kushant Uppal, I see a great potential for these simple solutions in the dark unlit corners of the globe. Kushant Uppal, the founder of Intelizon is a dreamer. (An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, he quit a luxurious life in the US after 20 years and returned to India. Guided by his mentor Professor Jhunjhunwallah (a known science thinker and someone who has consulted the Indian Presidency on solar and renewable sources of energy), Kushant decided to something for India’s rural areas that were devoid of light. Working without major NGO support, in India he has developed a mechanism using microfinance and a marketing team, to deliver his products to remote villages. However, here in Africa, sustainable and workable micro finance does not exist, and thus has made our task of direct selling quite different. However NGOs, Governments and Corporates have a far freer hand in spending and thus our task here is seems to be to channel NGO funding and Corporate SOCIAL Responsibility into a distribution segment. We are together looking at making this a larger story. We have received a lot of encouragement from NGOs like CRS (Catholic Relief Services) and Riders for Health and most recently from the Ministry of Energy and the Government of The Gambia. PURA has been very encouraging and have showcased our ZonLights. Corporate sponsorship recently has kick started a Light up a Village campaign which we, ComAfrique have been proud to initiate. TATA Africa are on board too. More information is provided below. <br />
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ABOUT THE PRODUCTS: <br />
Intelizon, initially commenced with 3 basic products for the Indian market. Ever since we have looked at Africa, we have requested models that adapt to African situations and markets.<br />
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ZONLIGHT (BASIC) - a 5 LED( Light Emitting Diode) SOLAR TASK Light. <br />
Why is called a TASK light – Because it permits you to use it for many ‘TASKS’. The Light is not concentrated and thus spreads, making it different from a Torch. Hung from the ceiling with the strap – it acts like a room bulb. Strapped around your body helps you do work with your hands free. Use it in a shop or your workshop as a light. You can even use it as a torch! Thus this is a TASK Light. <br />
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The ZonLight Basic uses a small compact Lithium-Ion 450-500mA Battery (Like your Cell phone Battery). The ZonLight Basic provides a two stage light that lasts from 7/9 hours on bright mode to 3/5 hours on Extra Bright mode. The battery charges from 6 hours exposure to sunlight from an inbuilt panel. The ZonLight has a carrying strap making it easy to use with your hands free or hang up from the ceiling. It is quite weather proof. It comes with a 1 year warranty. The battery lasts from 1-2 years depending on usage and is easily replaceable. The LEDs and Panel are top quality and last 5 years. The body is moulded hard ABS plastic and is durable. The drop (throw on the ground) test is our favourite selling gimmick. The standard dialogue that follows after dropping the ZonLight with a large sound - and showing that it still works is “SEE its 'Made in India'”.<br />
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When fully charged if flashes like a flashbulb. And this too is a selling aid. We use this feature for advertising too. At the recent concluded GCCI Trade Fair, ZonLights provided the illumination for TATA – Safari Motors vehicles.<br />
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ZONLIGHT II - More or less similar to ZONLIGHT Basic model as above, except that it has the following additional features. <br />
1. It has the option of being charged with the grid/electricity and thus can be charged in 3 hours.<br />
2. It has the option of charging a Nokia phone (models like the 1100/1200) using the inbuilt solar panel for emergency talk time.<br />
3. It has a charge indicator that glows when charging.<br />
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We have devised a model called the ZonLight II Plus: using a 1W external portable solar panel with a 1000mAh battery on a ZonLight II – we now are able to offer the amazing Zonlight with 12/24 Hours of Light with the same charging times.<br />
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ZONHOME: A truly revolutionary urban and rural use Light that resembles a tube light or an Emergency Light. It also has the Grid and Solar Charging facilities with a 1 Watt Portable Solar External panel (5 metres cable provided). Installation is very simple or not required. The Light is also portable and can be moved around with its Dimmer / On Off switch. On low power, the ZONHOME provides AMAZING 15 (FIFTEEN!) hours of light. And in Full mode provides 'eye-shutting' bright light with 2-3 hours of back up. Connected to the Grid the ZONHOME can be used as a permanent light solution that automatically switches to back up when power goes off. The Consumption is only 6Watts when used with Nawec. It also has the feature to charge Nokia phones via the solar panel. One Year Warranty and robust construction are a standard from Intelizon and ComAfrique.<br />
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NEW INNOVATIONS being developed are the ZON HOME CHOTA or SMALL with a Single LED giving as much light as the ZonHome Regular. ZONLIGHT III - which can be used as a basic Outdoor automatic switching Light with a sensor incorporated. Floodlights or Streetlights are also being developed on this chassis.<br />
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ZON STREET LIGHT – has been developed for rural street lighting with a 1700mAh battery and 2 x 1W panels combination that delivers bright light for 10-11 hours with an automatic sensor switch on and off. The light is also more focused using special lenses on the LEDs. The ZonSTREET is an amazing Street Lighting product available almost 75% cheaper than equivalent products in the market. ZON Street Lights are ideal for Gardens, Hotels, Beach Bars, Restaurants, Warehouses etc too. At 7000GMD with a One Year Warranty and 1-2 year battery life – with a 350GMD battery replacement cost – this becomes an effective tool for governments to light up rural areas at low maintenance costs.<br />
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ZON GATE and GARDEN Lights: using the same chassis of the ZONLIGHTS and ZonHomes a variety of lights are being developed for domestic outdoor use. The ZonGate Light will save you 180 GMD / Month on your Electricity consumption ( based on using 40Watt Lights for your current Gate Lights)<br />
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Zon SIGNBOARD – In a recent experiment we have succeeded in using 3 ZonHome chassis electronics to induct in a 2 meter hexagonal sign board. With the right settings we will be able to have daily illumination for 10-12 hours for 1.5 years. For an equivalent sign board, current systems use 2-4 40 watt tube lights which need frequent replacement. ZonSIGNBoards will save you 50% on your Electricity bills and 100% on your wiring costs.<br />
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In addition InteliZon is developing ZON POWER, an inverter based system that will revolutionize the Inverter industry. Can't tell you too much since it is a revolutionary idea.<br />
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The units available are all priced far below any of the CFL products marketed currently and are far longer lasting than any of the LED solutions offered at the moment. <br />
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An ADDED BONUS FOR AFRICA is that ComAfrique has taken up the assembly of the products in Africa, thus providing green employment as well.<br />
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I would encourage more people to invest in these simple solar lighting solutions - AS our advertisement says - LIGHT UP A LIFE - GIFT SOMEONE A ZONLIGHT TODAY.<br />
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Solar Energy also gives the corporate world an opportunity to exhibit Corporate Social responsibility. When you gift someone LIGHT – you are gifting their families an opportunity. Light means an ability to read and study at night. Light encourages Learning and Learning is the driving force of a Developing Nation.<br />
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ComAfrique, in its quest of Corporate Social Responsibility has chosen to show the way. Along with another socially aware Company from India, TATA Africa (represented by Safari Motors in The Gambia), have jointly offered to Sponsor Solar Lights to Two Villages to the Government of The Gambia. The details of the sponsorship are as follows:- <br />
Each Village (of approximately 25 Households Each) will be given at least one or two ZonLights per Household. And Each Village will also be given from 5-7 ZonHomes for their Community Centre, Medical Centre, Village Mosque or Church, Police Station and School. The Lights could be in various combinations to suit each Village. The Value of each Villages sponsorship is approximately 65-70,000GMD. ComAfrique invites other NGOs/Corporates to take up this offer and sponsor more villages in The Gambia.<br />
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And for any other Sponsor, offering to use ZonLights to Light up a Village, ComAfrique are expanding their offer a little further. They pledge to provide EVERY Village sponsored by any other Corporate using ZonLights, ONE FREE Battery Replacement – thus extending the availability of Light for a total of approximately 3-4 years for each household and each village sponsored by any other department or corporate.<br />
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And All this with a ONE YEAR WARRANTY. <br />
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NEWS FLASH<br />
When ComAfrique first offered to sponsor a village with ZonLights and ZonHomes, Mr. Sumeet Tank of TATA Africa offered to sponsor another village as part of their CSR. His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A J J Jammeh, The President of The Gambia, has now benevolently consented to sponsor two more villages in The Gambia. Thus a movement is now on with 4 Villages benefiting from this scheme. <br />
The Villages of Jakoi Gibbirick and Battendeng are being sponsored by ComAfrique and TATA Africa/Safari-Motors respectively and the villages of Bujingha and Jiramba are being sponsored by His Excellency.<br />
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In an attempt to make this self sustainable, the Project will encourage each village to devise means to make this self sustainable. The Corporates will initially sponsor a light or two for each home that will last 1-2 years. The beneficiary villagers will be requested contribute a minimal amount of approximately 1 GMD a day (30GMD per Month to a village Light fund). Therefore, at the end of the two years they have sufficient funds to replace the batteries (175-350GMD) and thereby have light for a further 1-2 years. At the end of the 3-5th year, the village fund has sufficient funds to replace every light. A small sum of 1 GMD per day, will give each household basic light for a lifetime. This is Cheaper and a far more Safer and Better Light than candles.<br />
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ComAfrique invites more corporates to come forward and Sponsor Villages.<br />
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The Lights will enhance Education as children can study at night. We would invite UNICEF and UNDP to be a part of this program as well.<br />
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For more information please contact<br />
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In Africa: Ram Mohan - ComAfrique Limited at www.comafrique.gm<br />
In India: Kushant Uppal - InteliZon Ltd at www.intelizon.com<br />
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BRINGING LIGHT FROM THE SUN TO YOU–SIMPLY–VERY SIMPLYRamMohanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14873110557067030844noreply@blogger.com3