Solar energy

"There is always sunshine, after the rain", people say. Here in Sudan, you can be certain that the sun will be there before you know it. So why not using the abundance of sun rays for multiple purposes? In many of the remote communities where we work it is difficult to provide households and schools with the conventional electricity. For many communities it is difficult to  have enough light in the school buildings and outside spaces, to use electric equipment and to charge mobile phones. It appears to be common that wedding parties are interrupted several times because the sound system blew up due to electric fluctuations (-which leaves the poor wedding singer singing a capella for a while-). In cooperation with the community members there have been discussions to find some alternatives for the conventionally gained electricity. After long processes and meetings with local solar specialists, the day had finally come for the very first solar panel to arrive in the community. While the children curiously observed every move made, the mechanics installed the solid frame and panel. It surely looked good according to them! One of the staff members went to visit the community the day after and found a group of people watching the football match of the national Sudanese team. At the same time seven different mobile phones were lying on the table waiting to be fully charged. It does look like a successful sustainable change in this particular community. And I am sure the wedding singers will also appreciate this gesture. "Let the sun shine!"

Tragic

Last night's sunset in Kosti

Yesterday morning the sad news reached us that the father of one of the guards had passed away. According to the cultural custom, all  staff members went straight to his house and supported him in his grief and prayers. The fact that a family member has died is, on itself, already sorrowful. But when we heard the occasion of this particular death we were astonished. The father of the guard originally came from West Darfur. Because of the difficult war situation there, he had taken refuge in Kosti and settled here with his wife and children. He hadn't gone back to his family in West Darfur for about 25 years when he decided that it was now time to go and see them at his old age. So he went back to West Darfur a few weeks ago, for a visit and a happy reunion with his family members. He was aware of the fact that there were fights over cattle between different tribes in that area. But nobody would have ever thought that these fights would be the cause of his timely fatality! According to the story, some aggressive men came into the family house because they wanted to take over the cattle of one of the family members. The brave man stood up and tried to negotiate on behalf of his family, who he had missed for such a long time. The men who had entered the house showed no mercy and killed the man and his cousin instantly, in front of the rest of the family.  Because of the Sudanese heat and due to religions reasons, people here are being buried as soon a possible after they have passed away. In this case the father of our guard was buried the same day, in West Darfur, the place were he was born. Leaving his grieving family in Kosti behind..