The organization I'll be working for is called KITE, The Kumasi Institute of Technology and Environment. KITE is an Accra-based NGO focused in the energy sector. It's mission is to influence policy formulation and implementation and service delivery in favour of sustainable development through research, capacity building, project development and implementation in the areas of energy, technology and the environment in partnership with leading local and international organizations. Whoa! That was a long sentence!
Here are two examples of projects that KITE is working on now:
1. The Multi Functional Platform (MFP) project aims to promote income generation activities through access to decentralised energy services. The MFP is a 10hp diesel engine, mounted on a steel chassis that powers a variety of end-use equipment such as grinding mills, de-huskers, battery chargers and water pumps. The engine can also generate electricity for lighting, refrigeration and water pumping. Through the provision of these energy services, the MFP reduces both time and energy required to complete daily tasks.
2. eCARE aims to reduce poverty, accelerating the extension of clean energy and modern telecommunication services to rural and peri-urban users. eCARE does this by providing loans to rural entrepreneurs for the purchase and operation of Rural Business Centres (RBCs) equipped with computers, printers, telephones and solar photovoltaic systems. eCARE is public-private partnership between Ghana Telecom, the UN foundation, UNEP and KITE.
The details of my placement are still being decided but I'll be working on one of these two projects. So far it seems that I'll be spending some time in Accra with Mary Roach, an EWB long term volunteer, as my coach.
I'm really excited to be working with KITE! I think I'll learn a lot about the role that energy plays in poverty reduction; in fact, one of the goals of my placement is to understand it better! Also, I hope this placement will teach me a lot about empowerment of local entrepeneurs, especially women. Some questions that I have right now are: what kind of role can I play in KITE? what are KITE's expectations of this placement and how can I make sure that I can contribute the most to KITE's goals?
I'll post more information as soon as I know more. For now, I'll go back to studying for final exams.
3 comments:
Sounds exciting Andrea! Those both sound like interesting projects. I am really looking forward to reading your stories. - Ross
Ahhh exciting!! And in Accra, too, the bustling ocean metropolitan area!
Consider this blog bookmarked, and linked, and I'm excited to see you in like, two days!!
Ahhhh!
-Ash
Hi Andrea
I'm Mel, a JF from last year, and my placement was also indirectly with KITE. I was stationed in Salaga in the Northern region, working on the MFP project with SEND foundation.
You'll soon learn for yourself, but the KITE staff are rediculously friendly nice and welcoming, I was, and still am, very impressed by them. Ben is awesome. Accrs is great, too! You'll have yummy food to eat pretty much all the time :-)
All the best, enjoy pre-dep!
Mel
ps, if you want to check out my blog from last year: http://www.melinghana.blog.com
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