NEED

In Nepal, 2.4 million households [1] are to this day compelled to use kerosene based wicked lamps (known as Tuki in local language, which is made by inserting strands of cloth or “wicks” in glass bottles filled with kerosene) for household lighting. This form of lighting is neither cost effective nor is it “environment friendly”. On the macro level, since kerosene has to be imported, government has to spend its limited foreign currency reserve (and the international rate of oil is increasing day-by-day). On the micro level, fumes from the tuki affect the eyes and lungs, contribute to global warming due to release of greenhouse gas (CO₂), the quality of light is inferior and there is a high risk of accidental fire hazards.

To replace the kerosene lamps, “Solar Tuki” is being used. As most of the targeted beneficiaries are below the poverty line, most of them will not be able to afford the upfront cost of the Solar Tuki. Therefore, micro financing mechanism has been developed by mobilizing local groups, enabling the people to purchase the Solar Tuki on an installment basis (capital fund being provided from the revolving fund). Solar Tuki will be provided – not on subsidy – but on credit. Repayment would not be an additional financial burden since the household would deposit the monthly expenditures that they earlier had on kerosene (usually, 4 liters of kerosene per month).

AIM

The aim is to provide better quality of light (for those who do not have access to electricity) by solar-based household lighting system (known as Solar Tuki) through the integrated approach of community mobilization and technological intervention.

TECHNOLOGY: WHAT IS SOLAR TUKI

“Solar Tuki” is a White Light Emitting Diodes (WLED) based solar lighting system that consists of two units of 0.3-Watt lamps with built-in Nickel Metal Hydride rechargeable batteries which is charged by 3 Watt solar photo voltaic panel. The lamp unit also has a 3 volt outlet for connecting a FM/AM radio. Radio enables access to information - this is an additional benefit of the Solar Tuki. The fully charged Solar Tuki works continuously with bright light for eight hours thus adding working time.

Dear Mr. Shrestha:

My name is Kyle Burgoon, and I am an MBA student at Santa Clara University, and a member of the GSBI Task Force.  I am here to assist you in the development of your application exercises.

I have reviewed your first exercise, and am struck by the far-reaching implications of the solar tuki.  Your execution of the exercise is outstanding, and I am forwarding it on for review by our evaluators.  First exercise is complete, please proceed on to the second exercise.  If you have any questions about the exercises, please feel free to let me know.

Sincerely,

Kyle Burgoon

Dear Kyle,

Thanks for your good comments. I will proceed to the next excercise.

I am glad to inform you that I am Tech Award Laureate 2007 (Economic Development category) as well as World Bank Development Marketplace 2005 Awardee. Besides, I was selected by the U.S. Department of State to participant in the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) 2007 (Theme - Urban Environment). 

I decided to apply in "2008 Global Social Benefit Incubator (GSBI)" course as I think it would help me a lot to take forward my initiative on solar household lighting.

For your information, please refer to:

·        ECCA-Nepal Project page http://www.ecca.org.np/projects.php

·        Global Development Marketplace (DM) announces the winners of its first Photography Contest 2007!  http://go.worldbank.org/IJX6FHKM20

·          Global Development Marketplace (DM) Photography Contest 2007 award winning photographs on ECCA-Nepal Solar Tuki http://go.worldbank.org/DSY7CF7WT0

·        ECCA-Nepal Solar Tuki movie clip www.youtube.com/watch?v=q1LjRcVygjg

·        Global Development Marketplace (DM) 2005 ECCA-Nepal solar tuki project photo page http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/OPPORTUNITIES/GRANTS/DEVMARKETPLACE/0,,contentMDK:20834648~menuPK:1519354~pagePK:180691~piPK:174492~theSitePK:205098,00.html

·        ECCA-Nepal Solar Tuki for support collection www.globalgiving.com/1268

·        http://tinyurl.com/285cyt

·         http://www.techawards.org/laureates/

· http://www.techawards.org/laureates/stories/index.php?id=160

Thanks.

Prachet Shrestha

Previously Kyle Burgoon wrote:

Dear Mr. Shrestha:

My name is Kyle Burgoon, and I am an MBA student at Santa Clara University, and a member of the GSBI Task Force.  I am here to assist you in the development of your application exercises.

I have reviewed your first exercise, and am struck by the far-reaching implications of the solar tuki.  Your execution of the exercise is outstanding, and I am forwarding it on for review by our evaluators.  First exercise is complete, please proceed on to the second exercise.  If you have any questions about the exercises, please feel free to let me know.

 

Sincerely,

 

Kyle Burgoon

 

Hello Mr. Shrestha:

I have reviewed your Exercise 2 and it looks good.  Please proceed to Exercise 3, and when completed, please forward to my e-mail address at

kburgoon@scu.edu.  Best of luck!

Sincerely,

Kyle