mary's mission
 
A solar workshop
 
banco installation

Arrive in Bamako
 
Nearby Villages

Visit Bougouni
 
Nyamina Region

dogon country
 
Sevare/Mopti/Djenne

 
Mali in a map of the continent of Africa
I first visited Mali in the summer of 2004 in the hopes of finding a small, motivated group of people interested in establishing a Malian micro-enterprise that would locally produce solar panels and, eventually, other solar technology, such as solar ovens.

Suni Solar, a micro-enterprise that develops solar technology in Nicaragua
It serves as a model for the Malian enterprise. This enterprise will allow Malians to more easily afford energy as an imported panel may cost up to twice as much as a locally produced one, thus enabling them to bring light, running water and eventually electricity for appliances (e.g., tools, refrigerators, televisions, etc) to their rural villages.

Dr. Komp with a box solar oven, produced by the micro-enterprise we birthed, Afriq-Power, in Mali
Solar ovens are built with all local materials, do not require panels and can bake and cook as well as any regular oven.

Fuelwood in Mali
Solar ovens do not use fuelwood, or other traditional energies, which account for more than 90% of Mali’s domestic energy consumption. Fuelwood harvesting is a leading cause of deforestation in Mali. Solar cookers seek to ameliorate this desperate situation.

Carolina Barreto Cajin
I attracted a group of 12 highly motivated Malians interested in learning how to build the technology. Upon returning to the states, I contacted Dr. Richard Komp and Carolina Barreto Cajina, who had worked together with Grupo Fenix to establish solar technology in Nicaragua. They agreed to travel to Mali to help the Malians establish the local enterprise by teaching them how to build and install solar technology, utilizing the support and implementation skills of Ji Duma.

Loriana Dembélé, the Italian Consulate and President of the Malian non-profit, Ji Duma
Loriana Dembélé was interested in expanding Ji Duma’s use of solar energy technology. I returned to the states and established Small Practical Projects LLC in hopes of facilitating solar projects in developing countries. I raised the money necessary to bring Dr. Komp and Carolina Cajina to Mali to teach the Malians to build panels and complete the installation of lights and a water pump at the Banco Schoool in the rural village of Banco.

A Fulbright Day!!
While raising money for the upcoming project to take place in March 2005, I decided to apply for a Fulbright. I assumed that we (Dr. Komp, Carolina Cajina, Ji Duma and I) would be successful in implementing the above project in March 2005, and therefore, I applied for the Fulbright in hopes of obtaining the opportunity and financial support to evaluate the project after its completion!

Loriana Dembélé, the Italian Consulate and President of the Malian non-profit, Ji Duma in Nyamina with the Chief of the village and a Ji Duma co-worker
Ji Duma has done a variety of development work in the villages over the past 20 years, including micro-enterprise development. Therefore, they are a perfect candidate to help spread productive uses of PV throughout Mali. Ji Duma will be the enterprise's first, essential customer! Ji Duma will buy locally produced panels from the new micro-enterprise, Afriq-Power. Ji Duma will then implement and spread the solar technology within the villages. They will be able to train villagers how to use PVs in order to generate income. Ji Duma will be the micro-enterprises's customer and support center. The micro-enterprise will have a much greater chance of being stable and successful as a result.

Ji Duma, the local Malian NGO we are working with, will be like a "Grupo Fenix of Mali”

News and Updates
ABOUT Us
CURRENT CONCERN
PRACTICAL PROCESS
Case Study
COLLABORATORS
photo gallery
Donations