Sales Agent Training!

Today we completed our first training of the solar agents who will be selling the solar products in their villages. We had three men from Lokossa, a town in Southern Benin joining us, and we took them through a two day training. First, we explained the goals of Novi and SBE Gratos, and described solar power and its benefits as opposed to other sources of light. We then moved onto training them as sales agents, stressing that they were becoming social change agents, not just businessmen. Although selling solar home systems is important because if the demand for them, being an active member of the community, and forming relationships with clients, both before and after the sale of the product, or even if no sale takes place, is the most important thing. Nobody should be forcing solar energy on anyone, but instead responding to the stated needs of the people you meet. The trainees were very receptive, and training on such an intimate scale was very good, since we were able to make personal connections. Bryce, a sales agent in Lahotan, joined us and shared his experiences on the field. He described working with a microfinance organization to help people afford the product, fielding questions, and interacting with people. We demonstrated some of our products, Barefoot Power’s PowaPack Junior, which has so far been our most popular product (it has two lights and can charge cell phones and radios) and Barefoot Power’s Village Kit (7 lights). Hervé and Bryce took them apart and put them back together, showing all the different components along the way. Everyone got involved, and the trainees asked lots of questions. It was a very informal session, but there was a lot of information shared and it seemed like the trainees took it all in. Hervé wrote a lot down, and they received the outline of the training at the end.

Today they practiced installing the lights themselves, which went very well. They are taking two PowaPack Junior systems back to Lokossa, and signed discharge forms and got checklists and manuals for installation and use. It was a good training, and a good template for future ones. Below are some pictures

The Team!

Spreading Solar Awareness in Lahotan

Last Thursday, Solar Benin Energy went to Lahotan, a village about an hour away from Savalou, where SBE and Novi are based. Lahotan does nor have electricity, and relies on kerosene lamps, or generators powered by motor oil. Hervé Binazon, Novi’s program coordinator; Sophia Cioccia, another intern; and I all went to spread awareness about the availability of solar-powered energy alternatives. We spoke first with the CA (Chef d’Arrondissement) of the village, who had a solar light in his home brought from Europe. He was very receptive, and saw the need in his village. Hervé did most of the talking, in Mahi, the local language of Lahotan. The next stop was meeting with a collection of important people in the village, who were having a meeting that evening. On the way, though, we stopped to talk to some men who were playing dominos, the name of a game that looks a little like mancala. They got really excited about it too. When we got to the meeting, we all introduced ourselves in French, but Hervé spoke to them in Mahi about the product. At the end, however, they turned to me and had someone tell me in French, “thank you so much for bringing this product to us.” They continued to thank me, although I had done nothing, said nothing, and was merely an intern tagging along. Just because I was American like the product, I must be the one bringing the product, instead of the Beninese NGO I’m working for. This happened a few more times, and each time I found it very strange. I was told that I was a bridge between the foreign product and the people in the village, since consumers are very conservative, and my presence led credence to the product. It was a strange reality to be faced with.

The visit was very successful. Reaching the important people in the village is an important first step to reaching the rest of the village, since they spread the word. Some of the men we spoke to are religious leaders, which is a powerful resource because of the very religious nature of Benin. Churches will also be helpful for recruiting young people to act as information agents. Some people we talked to already wanted lights, so we ended up installing two systems. Below are some pictures of our trip:

Author: Idun Klakegg

The Need for Solar Power in Benin

Benin is a beautiful country. People take pains to dress impeccably, which makes the underlying poverty more difficult to see. 90% of the population, however, does not have access to electricity. Their houses may be ready for it, they may be ready to pay, but the infrastructure is missing. There are almost no street lights, and gas is sold from jugs on the side of the road. Even for people who are lucky enough to have electricity, the power cuts out constantly and unexpectedly, and people who rely on refrigerators to keep their goods fresh may lose their entire stock because of a power outage. The alternative to electricity is kerosene, widely used in villages and extremely dangerous. A flame left burning can easily burn down a house, and stories abound about deaths of people who could not get out. Kerosene also contributes to asthma, and other respiratory diseases. According to the World Bank, “breathing kerosene fumes is the equivalent of smoking two packets of cigarettes a day and two-thirds of adult females with lung cancer in developing nations are non-smokers” (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18262217). Burning kerosene is also inefficient and pollutes the environment.

Not having electricity cuts down the day dramatically. In Benin, where it is already often too hot to do much in the middle of the day, at least during the hot season, so much time is lost when the day ends when the sun goes down. People who could otherwise be continuing to work must stop, and children cannot study.

Solar energy is an elegant solution. It does not require any infrastructure, and based on the need, the number of lights can be scaled up or down. Some families may only need two, whereas for some eight may be better. The systems are easy to install, and last for 10 years. The light is surprisingly bright. People can suddenly work, study and socialize much more easily in the evening. Additionally, each solar home system comes with one or more phone chargers. Phones are the main form of communication in Benin. Most people do not have personal access to the Internet, and use their phones for everything from entertainment (listening to music or watching music videos) to business calls, to staying in touch. Beninese phones are always ringing, and people love to talk. Charging the phones, however, can be difficult, and may take place at communal centers via generator, or at a lucky neighbor with electricity. All in all, the lack of reliable sources of electricity and light undermines the people of Benin’s ability to realize their capabilities. Solar power provides clean, safe energy that cuts out spending on electricity bills or kerosene completely.

Author: Idun Klakegg

Installing a Solar Home System in Savalou, Benin

On the Road: Installing Solar Home Systems in Glo and Bohicon

Although Solar Benin Energy (SBE) has not fully rolled out its distribution system, people are hearing about the products, so we have been installing systems on a small scale. We installed two sets of two-light systems in Savalou, for a mechanic whose house was fitted for electricity, complete with light switches, wires, and light bulbs, but who did not have access to the electric current. Only 10% of the population does, but most houses are built fully equipped, in the hopes that one day the government will have the infrastructure to meet the need. We installed two two-light systems, four in all. Each system comes with a phone charger, which is also vital here, where mobile phones are the most common form of communication, business, and entertainment. In the evening we returned, and the lights were so bright that a few of them had to be repositioned. Everyone was very happy.

Next we went to Bohicon, to install a two-light system for a family there. The son became very excited about the whole project, and wanted to install the lights himself so he could be an installer for future light systems in Bohicon. We talked to the father, who was also intrigued, and who wanted to be a sales agent for Bohicon. He called us back later the same day and said that he had already found 25 people in Bohicon who wanted to buy systems!

After Bohicon came Glo, a smaller town, where we first went to a Catholic school, L’École Sainte-Marcelle, who wanted two two-light systems for its dormitories. We also were going to install a seven-lamp system, but the client was away so instead we showed another young man how to install the lights, so that he could be an installation agent in Glo. In this way, the system can become self-sustaining, with local people in the villages able to serve their own community.

What was most striking traveling through Benin was that even the most casual conversations with people along our way excited interest when SBE came up. We passed a toll agent on the road, who stopped us and at first was rather stern, but when he found out what we were doing became very animated. Power cuts at the toll station were frequent, and everyone was immensely frustrated. Solar powered lights would be perfect. He was not the only one. When the battery in the car died, the mechanic who came wanted to be a sales agent for Allada, his town. A woman who rode part of the way with us also complained about the constant power outages, and took a flyer. There is clearly such a widespread need and demand for it, both with those who are lucky enough to have electricity, and those who do not. It was amazing that even in chance meetings, everyone seemed to see the utility of solar energy.

Author: Idun Klakegg