This project, in the proximity of M’Bour, about 90 km South of Dakar, consisted of the installation of a solar panel kit producing 2400 Wp. This installation produces and delivers electricity to a grammar school comprising no less than 650 pupils from the 1st to the 6th grade; with on top three classes for the deaf and mute.
21 classes, an administrative building, a kitchen, a sick ward, a library, a toilet block for boys and girls and living quarters for the guard, in other words, 46 light fixtures and various sockets that require power.
Also a night/security lighting and an automatic well pump was installed, both powered by the solar panel produced electricity.
Our three volunteers assisted by Sadio, a local volunteer, needed all their strength and energy to successfully complete this mission, which was quite challenging due to the monsoon season.

Volunteers : Freddy Arzée (retired Cofely Fabricom),Dominique Thomas (ORES), Oriano Vergnanini (ENGIE Electrabel)
Project Leader : Freddy Arzée

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In 2016, we made our first project in Belgium in favor of a home for children of the judge located a few hundred meters away from the ENGIE Tower in Brussels.
A mission of consultancy service for the renewal of the high-voltage cabin of La Fleche, Queen Marie – Henriette children’s home in Brussels led to an economy of several dozen thousands Euros.
On the other hand, the installation of an IT-cabled network the last two Saturdays of August by the volunteers’ team allows a secure management of critical data on children.
The first one but unfortunately probably not the last project in our own country where the access to the energy can raise a problem.

Volunteers : Jacques Tilquin, Nicolas Coppée, Steve Begasse, Olivier De Ridder(ENGIE Cofely Services), Olivier Debaets (Sibelga), José Béroudia (ORES)
Project Leader : Jacques Tilquin

 

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In 2015, Energy Assistance asbl-vzw and ENGIE Asia Pacific worked together to renovate the electrical installation of a school that welcomes visually impaired children in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
This year, a second project concerned the hearing impaired children school. The opportunity for two Energy Assistance volunteers, Jean-Paul Vanherck (Technilift – ENGIE Cofey subsidiary) and Amy Li Jing (ENGIE China) to work at the renovation of the electrical installation. The works included the installation of new electrical boards, cabling, earthing & some lighting. A team of three local volunteers of Ulaanbaatar coordinated by Myagmar Erdenetugs “Tugsuu” (ENGIE Mongolia) has also contributed to the success of this project.
The electrical renovation was urgent as the school set up in the year’s 80 was facing to safety issues.
As last year, part the financing of the project was covered by the Energy Assistance 2015 greeting cards’ sales. This operation wouldn’t have been possible without the help of volunteers and the support of ENGIE Tractebel Engineering.
Thanks also to ENGIE Mongolia which help us in all the logistical Issues on place and especially to Tugsuu.

Volunteers : Jean-Paul Vanherck (Technilift – Subsidiary of ENGIE Cofely), Amy Li Jing (ENGIE China)

Project Leader : Miklos Almasy (ENGIE Africa)

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In 2014 and 2015 an Ebola epidemic raged through Western Africa.  Sierra Leone was amongst the countries struck by the disaster.
Hence, the decision to put the application from “Eye for Salone” and “The Flemish Institute and Primary School” on hold and not to restart it before the end of 2015.
On their wish list : the installation of solar panels (3.0 kWc), batteries, a fridge and 2 computers for the new primary school and training centre in Waterloo, next door to the “Amputee and War Wounded Camp”, where victims of the 1991-2002 Civil War had found a home.
The project went very smoothly, thanks to the helpful locals, who welcomed and supported our two Energy Assistance volunteers during the entire duration.
Frank and Luc witness : “Beautiful weather, sometimes too hot, especially for the roof work.  Luckily we had a cool breeze from time to time.  The first computer lessons were really encouraging.The only fact they have to learn, is that the Belgian ‘Tricolours’ is not horizontal but vertical”.

A good start for the first intervention of EA in Sierra Leone.

Volunteers : Frank Anckaert (ENGIE Electrabel), Luc Brossé(ENGIE Electrabel)
Project Leader : Miklos Almasy (ENGIE Africa)

 

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The mission managed by two Energy Assistance Volunteers had as target to electrify the day clinic of Mivakpo, situated about a hundred kilometers from the Lomé, the capital of Togo.

Energy Assistance’s action covered four different sites and aimed to secure and to improve the interventions of the medical staff (doctors, nurses) on the spot.

A full installation of 4 solar panels was put in place. The electricity produced by these panels, supplies the lighting in the delivery and the waiting room and foresees the sockets in the medical staff’s office of power. Another two panels are dedicated to powering the fridge, where vaccines and medications are kept.

At the same time, Energy Assistance volunteers, analysed the broken down panels of the orphanage and day clinic at Wli and the day clinic at Meduime. The team managed to replace the batteries and the faulty regulators.
During this stay, the efficient help and the lodging provided by Sylvia Roovers from the Joko Togo Association, were crucial to the succeeding of this multifold mission.

Volunteers : Jean Noel Marchand (Electrabel) and Roland Ronchain (Electrabel)

Project Leader : Willy Vanderelst (retired Laborelec)

 

 

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Installation of solar panels for the education and health centre.

Mukumary is situated in the middle of nowhere in the province of East Kasaï on the Equator. The nearest “hamlet” is a 5 hours’ drive away. After a 3-day journey, departing from Brussels, the Energy Assistance volunteers were able to start work.
This “twofold” mission, finished by mid-May 2016, consisted of the installation of two solar kits, each 1950 kW, to provide electricity to the education and health centre in Mukumary.

The kit – photovoltaic panels and interior installation – had been bought locally at Kinshasa and proved to be fully functional after having fixed some minor transport damages, due to the last part of the trip through the bush.
An issue frequently encountered during this type of missions is the mounting of the solar panels on the roof. Most of the times, the roof beams are in very bad condition or the roofsurface itself is very undulating. Luckily, the team could count on the help and dynamism of the villagers and in particular the abbot Luhumbu, to solve the issue.

Our volunteers were truly satisfied that they had been able to bring the “electricity fairy” to this isolated community, thus not only improving the education and health standards but also the day-to-day life of woman as they have light in their kitchen now.
The whole project will improve the living standards and enable better and easier community life.

Volunteers : Freddy Arzée (retired Engie Fabricom), Marcel Bavay (retired ORES)
Project Leader : Freddy Arzée

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Two volunteers of Energy Assistance accompanied by Rik Neirynk (Artsen zonder Vakantie) spent two weeks of their holidays to achieve this electrification project in Katako Kombe, in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Sankuru province). The objective was to secure the supply of electricity for the operating room of the hospital with 4 kWp photovoltaic panels and storage batteries.

This region of central DRC is difficult to access. The equipment has been procured in Belgium and transported by cargo ship to Kinshasa.  From there, it had to travel 1,300 kilometers on the river and finally by truck. The volunteers, after a long journey of 3 days (2 flights and 6 hours drive on tracks in the savannah and the rainforest), they arrived safely and ready to get to work.
Despite the usual technical difficulties and the adverse weather conditions (over 40°C during the day and storms in the evening) and thanks to the help of local technicians, the works have progressed at good pace.

After 8 days, the installation operates to the delight of the medical staff, the hospital patients and all the villagers.

Volunteers : Steff  De Coster (Cofely Fabricom), Jelle Christiaens (GEM ENGIE)

Project Leaders : Benoît Braeckman en Roland Rosseel (gepensioneerden Electrabel)

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Tacloban, a city on the Philippine island Leyte, situated in the middle of the Pacific. Just at the edge of a river, is the children’s village “SOS Children” located. A real village with a.o.a community house. In 2013, a typhoon tidal wave very heavily damaged most of the  buildings.

Bob Thielemans (ENGIE Benelux) was on site to help and support the local population. Very fast the idea of an electric project, to create a safe place and protect the children during typhoons and floods, arose. To start with, a solid community house was built.

As the electricity network is frequently out of order during typhoons, a battery operated emergency installation and 16 photovoltaic panels of 250 Wp were installed. This mission was realised in December 2015 with the assistance of Rodolfo Mendiola, Jr (SOS Children Village Philippines) en Gabriel Guariño (on-job training)

This installation provides electricity for up to 2 days for the lighting, two refrigerators, a hydrophone pump, an emergency radio-transmitter and several small electrical devices.

Volunteers : Jos Govaert (ENGIE Electrabel), Jason Fulgencio (ENGIE Cofely Philippines)
Project Leader : Jos Govaert (ENGIE Electrabel)

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Last September and October, electricity was installed in various social buildings (mainly hospitals and schools) in the Mutwanga urban area, situated in Northern Kivu, in the heart of the Virunga National Park.  The installation was realised with the help of Energy Assistance.
The requestor, the “Virunga Foundation”, is strongly involved in the Park management by means of securing the safety of the Park Rangers who fight poaching and deforestation.

Thanks to EA volunteer, the electric installation for the hospital and 4 schools was designed and described in detail. Once the material had been ordered, it was shipped out to Kivu via the Republic of Uganda.
Due to the unstable situation in the Mutwanga area, the technical teams of the Virunga Foundation had to rely upon their own resources to undertake the installation. Luckily they had the support of our volunteer, who was in regular contact with them, and coached them to accomplish their mission successfully.  This to great satisfaction of the beneficiaries and the local population.

Volunteer :Jacques Tilquin (ENGIE Cofely)
Project Leader : José Jacquemart (ENGIE Tractebel)

 

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Last September, Energy Assistance has sent two volunteers to the village of Samba in de Maniema Province in DR Congo. Our specialists volunteered there for ten days to provide solar power to the village. They installed photovoltaic panels at the village health center that houses a maternity and a small laboratory.
With the help of three local technicians, the volunteers installed 4.5 kW of photovoltaic panels. They also trained these local technicians so they can provide the maintenance. Serge : “The mission was very rewarding as we witnessed the first ultrasound being performed, something that was not possible before. Energy Assistance not only brought electricity to the health center and its neighboring villages, but also lets us keep both our feet on the ground and lets us experience this unique inspiring moment”.

Volunteers : Serge Algoet and Vincent Michiels (Sibelga)
Project Leader : Luc Hermant (ENGIE Electrabel)

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