Participants of Kiromo Village hold their certificates after completing the training

ARTI-Tanzania has officially begun the Waste to Wealth Project with the first trainings starting in Bagamoyo.  The project to “promote charcoal briquettes in Tanzania” is being carried out with support from the World Bank’s Biomass Energy Initiative for Africa (BEIA).

Lead Trainer, Kennedy Mremi, instructs a participant in cutting a drum safely

Three trainings have been completed to date in Dunda, Magomeni and Kiromo villages in Bagamoyo District.  The selection of participants for the training was also done carefully to ensure at least one male and one female from each hamlet of the Ward was selected.  This was initiated by the village councils who want to ensure the training reaches to as many corners of their Ward as possible.

Participants plan the welding of the kilns outer ring

Following each training the participants have worked to form charcoal briquetting groups with an idea to collectively produce, promote and sell briquettes.  The groups elected leaders to organize activities and are in the process of writing bankable business plans to move their fledging enterprises forward, which will help create “green jobs” while protecting the environment.

Participants in Dunda Village admiring their kiln

About the Waste to Wealth Project

The goal of the project is to target existing charcoal producers and facilitate their transition from cutting trees to using dry biomass to produce charcoal sustainably.

Kennedy Mremi, Lead Trainer, loading the truck for the very first training

The training has focused on fabrication of charcoal kilns, pyrolyzing of dry biomass for the production of char powder, charcoal briquetting using manual extruders and setting up rural briquetting enterprises. The project aims to train 1800 rural Tanzanians in 60 villages in 4 districts bordering Dar es Salaam…where most of the charcoal for the city is produced.

Loading the kiln with dry biomass in Magomeni Village

Trainings started in Bagamoyo in March 2011 and run for two weeks every month for a period of 6 months.  9 more villages will receive training in bagamoyo over the next three months before moving on Kibaha, Kisararwe and Mkuranga Districts in the 18 months completion of the trainings in Bagamoyo.

Opening the kiln to remove the char powder in Magomeni Village

So far the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism (MNRT) the Bagamoyo District council, District Forest Officers (DFO’s) and the Ward and Village Councils have been instrumental in ensuring successful trainings from the start of the project in Bagamoyo.

Preparing the char powder for briquetting

The ARTI-TZ team is overwhelmingly happy with the success in the first three trainings, especially how the groups have proven to be resourceful and creative with their new found opportunity.  We look forward seeing more of the same success.

Briquetting in Magomeni Village

Briquetting in Dunda Village

Masai in Vigwaza Village learning about solar

The ARTI-Tanzania team started promoting solar lights throughout March and April in Bagamoyo District as part of the Lighting Rural Tanzania project.  Jacqueline Michael, Project Officer and Abdalla Seushi, Field Officer, joined up with staff from Magic LN Supplies and Abel shop, both agents partnering for the project.

The team visited 15 villages, which included Ubena, Mdaula, Vigwaza, Msoga, Mboga, Msata, Lugoba, Mandera, Ngelengele, Magindu, Gumba, Gwata, Kiwangwa, Makurunge and Fukayosi villages, of which they were able to visit 7 villages during market days, when there was a large turnout of people.  The goal of the promotions is to educate and create awareness about Barefoot Power solar products and to introduce the “Mauli Kauli” credit option for purchasing the solar lights.

Children from Ndelema Market testing the Fire Fly 12 Mobile

The promotion included product demonstration where Firefly 12 Mobile and 5w PowaPacks were put on display for people to see working. The team taught village households on how to connect the Firefly 12 Mobile and 5w PowaPack and also explained the advantages of the solar products over candles and other products that produce light using kerosene.

Jacqueline Michael, LRTC Project Officer, demonstrating the Firefly 12 Mobile to interested customers

One of the advantages explained is the reduced health risks from the smoke that is released by candles and kerosene which causes lung cancer and eye problems as well as reducing the risk of house fire accidents.

The creation of awareness also involved giving out flyers and putting up posters on walls of different shops in the villages the team visited.

Abdalla Seushi, LRTC Field Officer, putting up "USIKUBALI GIZA" posters in a village shop

The promotions were spiced up with music and dancing from the “Wayaudi” and “B-Town” Groups of entertainers which attracted most village households to get a close look what was happening during the promotion.  The team moved from one village to another using a truck which was decorated with posters and banners that contained information on the solar products. The truck had speakers and a microphone that the team used to speak to large groups of people spreading considerable awareness to a large number of households in the villages.

Performers from the Wayaudi group performing at the solar promotion in Lugoba Village

Those village households who bought the 5w PowaPack solar system were taught how to install the product in their houses and succeeded in doing so.  Some people requested the team to assist them to install the system in Ngelengele and Mandela villages which Abdalla Seushi and a technician from Magic LN Supplies were happy to do.  The installations was a nice experience to both the team and the customers in the village.

A shop owner in Ngelengele Village turning on his nealy installed 5w PowerPack

Overall, the trip was a great opportunity for the households visited to learn about the Barefoot Power solar products and their advantages over other inferior products for lighting.