The ComAfrique Initiative "Light Up A Village" - with Solar ZonLights

The ComAfrique “LIGHT UP A VILLAGE” Initiative
Entrepreneurship from India – in Partnership with The Gambia

Light is a primary necessity for development.

The ComAfrique Initiative is a basic Sustainable SOLAR Rural Lighting Project that combines Individual & Corporate Social Responsibility with Local Village participation, at an AFFORDABLE cost to make it genuinely possible to provide basic clean Light to Rural Areas.

ComAfrique Limited invites Corporates, NGO’s and Government Departments to come forward, Sponsor and “Light Up a Village” with Solar ZonLights and ZonHomes.

ZonLights and ZonHomes are simple yet DURABLE Solar LED lights that provide amazing white light using high technology from InteliZon India. The ZonLights give upto 7-9 hours light with a 6 hour Solar Charge. The ZonHomes give upto 15-17 hours of light with a similar charge. They require no complicated installation. Each Light has a ONE Year warranty. The Batteries are Li-Ion and last upto 2 years depending on use. Replacement batteries are economical and easily available. The LEDs and Solar Panels could last from 5-7 years.

Under this initiative, Each Village (of approximately 25 households) is Sponsored by a participating Corporate, NGO, Individual or Government, providing about 50-70 ZonLights for the households and 5-7 ZonHomes for the School, Community Centre, Village Chiefs house, Medical Centre, Police Station, Mosque or Church, , etc. (The final configuration can be altered depending on size of the village and requirements).

The Sponsorship value is approximately 65,000 to 70,000GMD/- (approx 2,600US$ per Village).

The Initiative is then made SUSTAINABLE by involving villagers.

A Village ZonLight Committee is first set up. The Committee should ideally comprise of the Alkali or Village Chief, a dynamic youngster and a dynamic woman of the village.

The Committee provides ComAfrique with details of each village : Name of the Alkali, approximate population, number of compounds, number of households, average spending per household on candles and other sources of light, etc. Based on this information, the final configuration of the sponsorship is drawn up.

The Head of Each family receiving each light then formally and publicly engages with the Village ZonLight Committee to pay a minimal sum of ONE Dalasi per Day or 30 GMD per Month for each sponsored light. (This is very low compared to the 5-6 GMD spent on a candle per day and is safer too). This money is paid to the Village ZonLight Fund which will be managed by the Committee. This fund generates an income of 360GMD per Light per year for the Village. This fund can then be used to purchase replacement batteries in two years (life of the Li-Ion battery), which cost 175GMD for ZonLight and 250 GMD for ZonHome. Since the ZonLights and Zon Homes will last from 5-7 years, this fund will grow in surplus. The ZonLight fund then can be used to replace the ZonLights or ZonHomes and can even be used to ADD the number of Lights in the Village. (See attached Appendix 1)

The Village ZonLight Committee will monitor the payments from Villagers and set Village rules for the usage of the Village Light Fund. This fund should ideally be used only for Lighting up the village with ZonLight.

If the Village ZonLight Committee and ZonLight fund are run properly, the Beneficiary Village will NEVER be Dark again. In addition to providing Light in the villages, the initiative also encourages co-operation and organization in the village for a civic amenity.

The ComAfrique Initiative has commenced in The Gambia with the first four villages being identified by His Excellency, The President of The Gambia, Sheikh Professor Alhagi Dr. Yahya A J J Jammeh. H E has sponsored two villages (Bujingha & Jirramba) and ComAfrique Limited and TATA Africa-Safari Motors Sponsored the other two (Jakoi & Battendeng) respectively. RIGHT CHOICE SUPERMARKET, have immediately offered to sponsor another village and we will request H E to kindly nominate the Village.

The Initiative has begun. It is upon us to take it forward.

The ComAfrique “ZonLight” Team
Entrepreneurship from India - In Partnership with The Gambia
Contact: Nfamara Damfa (220) 7008892 or Mustafa Njie (220) 7012812 www.comafrique.gm