Pinky Pradhan, Pennsylvania

After successfully delivering the challenge of raising $4000 from 50 unique donors in May 2012 and securing a permanent spot on the Global Giving (www.globalgiving.org), we are happy to share that donations are still pouring in and so far we have raised more than $ 5,000. We are thrilled with the amazing support that this project continues to receive.

The volunteering project teams in the United States as well as the partners from Guwahati, Assam have been on their toes laying the preparatory ground work for the project implementation. Several key meetings, video and tele-conferences were held to discuss the challenges and to identify cost effective and sustainable solution and approach. Finally, the team has decided, with substantial inputs from AFNA members, donors and noted local social entrepreneur Mr. Pradip Sharma that the project will strive to create a model solar energy based community center at Garbhanga and the funds will be given to the beneficiaries in the form of a microfinance loan.

The villagers will select the households among themselves and the selected household will pay Rs. 300 (approx 6$) every month towards loan repayment, including two months advance. Though the system price is Rs. 3200, an additional 400 Rs (4.5 $), will be collected and paid to a service provider (preferably a local woman) who will be supervising the loan repayment and providing simple maintenance work if needed. Mr. Pradip Sharma emphasized on the need for loan repayment, saying, “The loan repayment policy should be strict so that later we don’t have to face difficulties in collecting the money and thus replicating the model.”

In the next few weeks, we expect the 6 households replacing the kerosene lamps with the solar lighting devices. A new journey will begin.