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Welcome to Kathryn's journal! Here you will find all the latest PUG news and updates. With the enthusiasm that this project has generated over the last few months, I have found that a lot can happen in a remarkably short period of time. This blog will be my way of sharing the excitement with you.
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May 29, 2008 - Wilmington Friends Power Up Gambia Committee
Thank you WFS for all you've done for PUG! It is always a pleasure coming to talk at your school.
May 1, 2008 - What has PUG done so far?
A lot! Kebba Badgie, the CEO of the hospital, told me this week that more patients than ever are coming to the hospital now that the water situation has been improved. This means more patients are getting treated - great news! Here is what we have done so far...
1) Installed 20 solar panels to power the water pump (previously dependent on the generator)
2) Added 2 new water tanks (now 4 total)
3) Installed a brand new water pump (goes down 71m so the water is drinkable)
4) Replaced more than 250 lights with energy efficient light bulbs
5) Improved the hospitals electrical infrastructure. Check out the pictures below...
.... and yes that is gauze not electrical tape in the "before"
BEFORE
AFTER
What is left to do...
- Install the 72 solar panels that will provide the hospital with full-time electricity (This is the most expensive part!)
April 21, 2008 - Project Update after Hagley - We're getting there!
What an incredible weekend! Thank you to everyone who made the events a success. After our fund-raiser on Saturday evening and our festival at Hagley on Sunday we have raised a total of (drum roll please)... $240,000. Only $60,000 to go before we can install the panels. Pictures of both events are below. Let me know if you have any ideas on how to help us reach this goal. Malaria season is just around the corner. Thank you again for your support.
A Passion for Power Pictures:
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Power Up at Hagley Pictures:
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April 16, 2008 - Project Update
Power Up at Hagley is this weekend! The whole Power Up Gambia team is busy getting ready for our big event on Sunday. I hope you will be joining us. For more information check out the entry below.
We now have $183,000! We are quickly approaching the $200,000 mark. With the malaria season approaching fast, it is critical that we raise the full $300,000 by the middle of May. We need your help! Let me know if you would like to get involved.
Finally, I would like to extend a big thank you to Strath Haven Middle School. The faculty and students organized a Torch Run last Friday to raise funds for PUG. What an exciting event with tons of enthusiasm. Here are some pictures. Check out the great tee-shirts :-).
Save the Date! Sunday, April 20th 2008 - Power Up at Hagley
Join us at "Power Up at Hagley," a day of educational and entertaining family activities on Sunday, April 20, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is going to be a celebration of Power Up Gambia, renewable energies, and making a difference. It is open to the public and admission is free. We have lots of informative and inspiring speakers presenting too. There is so much happening this day that it is impossible to fit it all here. The link below will take you to Hagley's website where there is much more information about the day. Hope to see you there!
www.hagley.lib.de.us/event-power-up.html
January 20, 2008 - I'm Back from my Trip to the Gambia!
What an incredible two weeks! With the funds already raised we were able to 1) replace all of the lights at the hospital with energy-efficient bulbs and 2) install a solar powered water pump to ensure the hospital has running water 24/7. This was all made possible by people like you! I was able to witness the installation with my own eyes and was very impressed by GamSolar's work and moved by the overwhelming appreciation of the hospital staff.
Six solar panels now allow the hospital to have water 24/7!
This bucket system was used by doctors, nurses, and midwives in the maternity ward
to wash their hands when water wasn't available (12 hours each day).
After the installation of the solar powered water pump this is no longer required!!!
Carol Cunningham (my mom and fellow board member), Jessica Zutz (my friend), and myself made up the assessment team to oversee the installation. Lonnie, Thinesh, and Susan made up our medical team! They made a wonderful impression on the hospital... already the hospital staff are encouraging them to come back soon. Jason, our videographer, did a fantastic job capturing the electricity need at the hospital as well as elements of Gambian culture and education. I'm looking forward to seeing the final video!
Thank you to all of you who came on this trip. What a rewarding experience!
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FINAL THOUGHT: The hospital REALLY needs these panels by the start of the malaria season in July. During this season there are more patients then any other time of year and electricity is needed for proper diagnose and treatment of this disease (especially the severe cases). Please help us meet this goal!
Imagine delivering a baby, putting in stitches, or giving/receiving a blood transfusion by candle light...
January 1, 2008 - We've Reached a Major Project Milestone!
Thank you to everyone who made a donation to PUG this holiday season. With your support, we have now raised half of the funds --- $150,000! --- needed to provide life-saving electricity to the hospital! We still have a lot of work to do to make electricity a reality, but this is quite an achievement. Who knew we could come so far in a year!
Would you like to help us? There are many ways to get involved...
1. You can make a donation directly through this website by clicking the map of Africa on the left-hand side (at the bottom).
2. You can hold a POWER UP EVENT at your home. Invite friends, family, and colleagues! You do the inviting, we'll do the talking. So far, this has been the best way for us to raise funds and spread the word. Contact: powerupgambia@comcast.net if you are interested.
3. You can volunteer! We could use additional help in the areas of marketing, fund-raising (of course!), event planning, and grant-writing.
December 15th - A Big Thank You to our Education Committee
With the help of our hard-working, dedicated education committee we have brought Power Up Gambia to more than 25 schools and spoken to over 20,000 students! Our goal is to inspire and empower students to realize that they too can make a positive impact on the world around them. To see all of the great resources we have for schools, visit the 'Education Program' link on the list (left-hand side).
Stay tuned for important event dates for students and families!
October 19, 2007 - Project Update
Thanks to everyone's help we now have $95,000!
October 4, 2007 - School Presentations
Power Up Gambia's educational initiative is moving ahead with full force, I can't believe this was only kicked off a month ago. Our first meeting of school delegates generated lots of new ideas and enthusiasm. There are so many different ways for you and your school to get involved. If you haven't already, make sure you check out the School Menu (on this site). I have already presented Power Up Gambia at several schools (all levels) and am excited to visit more. Please let us know if your school is interested!
PUG Presentation at Sanford. Students asked EXCELLENT questions.
September 27, 2007 - Project UpdateI am happy to report that our fund-raising efforts have been very successful. We have raised over $85,000! With these funds we are able to begin the first phase of the project: installing a solar water pump and solar water heater. This means that the hospital will have full-time running water, hot and cold, regardless of whether the generators are turned on or off. Furthermore, we will supply the hospital with energy efficient lights and a third 3,000L water tank (see photo below). The hospital anxiously awaits this installation!
Mr. Kebba Badgie, the hospital's Chief Executive points to the lack of water when the power is unavailable.
July 16th 2007 - Tavangar Family Presentation
Homa Tavangar and her two daughters, Layla and Anisa, gave a wonderful presentation this evening about their adventures in the Gambia last winter. They presented a beautiful slide illustrating some of the highlights of their trip. We had a wonderful turn out of friends, students, and faculty members. I hope all of the attendees have been further inspired to get their schools involved this upcoming year and to help PUG reach its goal!
Lee Fulton, the evening's host, introduces the Tavangars.
Homa (right) and Anisa (left) detail their experience in the Gambia.
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