Tanzania, here we come!

Today I am traveling to Tanzania with Ethiopian Airlines. This is what the journey is about.You can also read about it here at Meetingpoint Tanga

The Swedish Company HiNation is a new enterprize committed to produce rugged & mobile solar products for portable energy, to be used "Off Grid", in areas where there is no electricity. The first product from HiNation is the HiLight - a Solar charged combined lamp and mobile device charger - 10 hours of charging in the sun will provide 20 hours of light or charge three mobile phones. HiNation has been looking for ways to test the product, and to explore usability and business models. Previously the Metafari project, developed by Rafael ole Moono and Leif Josefsson had been starting to explore the issues around Off Grid. Today many people in Tanzania have access to mobile phones, and the coverage for the networks extend far beyond where there is electricity. Hence, charging of phones is costly both in time and money for many people in Tanzania. We were looking for opportunities to bring cutting edge Off Grid technology to practical use in the areas we had be working in. In early 2009 the current group met up in Sweden and started a discussion around how we could create a project to test the product in Tanzania. Earlier this year we learned about the "Demo Environment" program from the Swedish Agency for Sustainable Growth. HiNation decided apply for a grant, which we created in collaboration with TICC, and we were happy to learn that the application was approved in June 2010. The Market and Feasability Study will be take place mainly in the Tanga Region in September and October 2010. Our project group will seek contact with different user communities * Lodges - currently offering Kerosene lamps to guests. * Maasai settlements - possible micro business opportunities * Health services and schools outside the grid. There will be 6-8 test sites along the route Tanga - Lake Manyara who will each get 3-4 HiLights to use, test and evaluate during a period of 4 days - 2 weeks. For more information please contact HiNation Linda Krondahl: linda@hination.se Kristina Linhardt: kristina@hination.se Metafari Rafael Ole Moono: olemoono@gmail.com Leif Josefsson: leif.josefsson@gmail.com TICC Ruth Nesje: r.nesje@online.no

Link: www.hination.org