What exactly is Global Cools work in Zambia?
GCF has been working with a UK registered charity called Solar Aid (www.solaraid.org) and two Zambian non-government organisations (PAF and HODI) on two schemes in Zambia since March 2008. This amazing project has focussed on micro and macro solar initiatives. The micro solar scheme involves providing training and materials to enable local entrepreneurs to create viable small businesses. The macro scheme involves installing larger solar systems to enable communities to study after dark (e.g. classes in adult literacy and health) and to generate income (e.g. through using solar power to charge mobile phones). In 2007, the company that handles our phone and accessories recycling collected almost 4 million handsets, but estimates that up to 90 million handsets are sitting unused in the UK alone. If each one were worth £5 (which is a low estimate of a phone’s worth) £450 million could be raised if they were all donated.
