Ending Extreme Poverty in the Congo

What You See Is Only Half The Answer

 
In Congo, you see some things that you are quite obvious of the condition.  For an example, when you an old beat-up car driving the road while belching smoke.  You think that car is dying.  And 999 times out of a 1000 times, you would be right in your assumption.

However, some things are more subtle and not so obvious.  For example, you see a light switch in a building.  You can not assume that there will be lights if you flipped the switch to the 'on' position. 

The same is true of medical equipment in a hospital.  What are the chances that it will work?

Let Them Stare

Don't stare!  That's what my mom said.  But when you see something interesting or something you have never seen before, it is natural to stare.

Children, teenagers, and young adults have lots to catch up on.  The Belgians left the Congo following Independence in 1960.  After the exodus, the country's infrastructure has been steadily declining.  Roads, cement buildings, running water and electricity are things of the past in most rural villages.  Therefore, most younger people may not have experienced such things.

So, let them stare and dream about a better future.

A Waste of Water in Congo

Congo is a dark country.  That is, most cities outside of the capital of Kinshasa have limited electricity.  Electric power is only available to selected parts of town and or for only parts of the 24-hour day.

On my second visit to Congo, I visited a local dam built by an international group.  The river is a sub-minor tributary of the Congo River.  But it produces electricity for the Good Shepherd Hospital and compound.  They have electricity 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.  The dam is pictured above.

The Congo could be the brightest country in Africa.  How?  The water of the Congo River could be harnessed to produce the electricity.

Here's a waste of water in Congo.

Congo River - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

The river and its tributaries flow through the Congo rainforest, the second largest rain forest area in the world, second only to the Amazon Rainforest in South America.

The river also has the second-largest flow in the world, behind the Amazon; the second-largest drainage basin of any river, again trailing the Amazon; and is the deepest river in the world, at depths greater than 230 m (750 ft).

Its drainage basin is slightly larger than that of the Mississippi. Because large sections of the river basin lie above and below the Equator, its flow is stable, as there is always at least one part of the river experiencing a rainy season.

2 Ways to Survive Without Electricity

Many people have asked, how do you survive in rural Congo without electricity?  First, you learn to do without some things.  Second, you use battery-operated devices. 

Battery-operated devices are very useful in rural Congo.  You do not have electricity but you still need devices to make life bearable and comfortable.  Battery-operated flashlights are very common.   

In addition to battery-operated, you can use a number 12-volt devices, too.  These devices work off a cigarette lighter power.  A 12-volt battery can be recharged over and over again to supply power to many devices.  

The battery charger can be a solar charger or a generator.  Rechargeable AAA- and AA-batteries are excellent choices. 

Being Green By Necessity

 
In rural Congo, green technologies and practices are a necessity.

You use solar panels to produce electricity because fuel for the generator is expensive.  Also, its availability is limited.  In fact in rural Bulape village, you have to travel over two hours to purchase fuel.  There is no electric power grid for villagers.

You use rain water collection systems to capture rain water from the roofs.  Without a rain water collection, girls and children have to walk 2-3 miles to get water from a natural source.  There are no water wells or water system in the village. 

But solar panels and rain water collection systems are a cheaper and green alternative for the Bulape Hospital.  The rural poor villagers do without electricity and running water. 

Natural Lighting Is Abundant and Free

The question of the day is whether our classrooms will have electricity. 

Today, I continue a series started three days ago.   We (Congo Helping Hands) plan to build some new classrooms.  Previously, I answered questions about whether these classrooms will meet building codes, the locations of the proposed classrooms, and whether these classrooms will have dirt or cement floors.

When built, would they be electrified?  There are no power-grids in rural Congo.  Only critical buildings like hospitals have solar and or generator-powered electricity.  Lighting is the biggest need for electricity in the classroom.  Adequate natural lighting will be planned and used.  Natural lighting is abundant and free.  

Even in major urban cities, electricity is limited.  Most buildings in Kananga only have generator-powered electricity.

Electricity For Short Periods of Time

Some people would say there is not much you can do without electricity in a hospital.  You can do a lot.  You just have to ask someone or visit a Congolese hospital.

But actually, a Congolese hospital needs to have electricity.  Today, electricity makes things better or easier.

Bush hospitals in Congo like the Bulape Hospital does not have access to normal electricity as we know.  Some hospitals have access to electricity stored in 12-volt DC (auto type) batteries.  The battery is charged by a solar powered panel system.  The DC current is converted to AC (120-volt or 240-volt) current. 

Critical and needed medical equipment can be operated for short periods of time.

A Brighter Future For Rural Congo

 

What could you do without electricity?  You activities would be limited.  Most of our machines and factories would grind to a halt.  The lives of many patients would be in jeopardy.  Banks would be closed.  Traffic signals would not function.  Needless the say, our world and life style would end.

Consider the Congo, electricity is limited in the capital city of Kinshasa.  It is restricted to just four hours in some major cities.  But most of the country which is rural, electricity is almost non-existent.

However, electricity may soon arrive in the rural areas.  The development and deployment of the "Bloom Box" could be the answer. The future would be much brighter with electricity for rural Congo.

What To Do With Your Old Manual Typewriter?

What's a manual typewriter?  That's a typewriter which requires no electricity.  You have to really push down hard on the keys to strike the paper.  And you have to push them down with the same amount of force to achieve a consistent print.  Manual typing required finger strength!

In the rural area of Congo, manual typewriter are needed because there is no electricity.  Generators and expensive gas is not need.  The manual typewriter still has a useful life in rural Congo. 

Students can learn how to touch-type or at least learn where the keys are located.  They can learn to format business letters and reports.  They can learn a lot.  Also, they can dream about the power of a real computer.

If you know someone who owns a manual typewriter AND wants to put it to continued good use, connect me.  Check around your estate sales and nursing homes.  Rescue a manual typewriter from the dumpster.

Don't Forget To Bring Home Some Wood

 
Many of us hate to go shopping even for grocery.  Also, we hate to carry the food from our car into the house.  But I bet now of us have to carry the fuel to cook the food to our house, too.

In Congo, there is no utilities for cooking such as gas or electricity delivered to your house.  Congolese women have to go and get the wood or coal for cooking, too.  Coal is a luxury cooking fuel.  The poor walk miles to the bush to get wood.