Update on my Sunfunder projects (January 2014)

1200 More Solar Lights in Copperbelt

SunnyMoney is a social enterprise that sells quality solar lights in Malawi, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania, reducing reliance on poor quality fuels such as kerosene and disposable, short-life batteries.

	Jul 2013 –	Repayment 1
	Oct 2013 –	Repayment 2
	Jan 2014 –	Repayment 3
	Apr 2014 –	Repayment 4

Going good, I’ve just been repaid on my loan for this SunnyMoney project for the third time. I’m now only one repayment away from being fully repaid! I’ve paid it forward and grown my impact by reinvesting your repaid funds into another project that is not yet fully funded. Thanks for supporting off-grid solar!

The repayment means that demand for solar in the area is still high and that students and teachers are buying solar lights across Copperbelt district. As a result, they are experiencing life without kerosene, which is healthier and more economical.

Propel Zamsolar Solar Scouts

Zamsolar is a social enterprise that empowers a network of sales agents in rural villages and delivers solar products and other cost-saving and income-generating products to the 10 million Zambians who have no electricity.

	Oct 2013 –	Repayment 1
	Jan 2014 –	Repayment 2
	Apr 2014 –	Repayment 3
	Jul 2014 –	Repayment 4

Good news! I received my second repayment on my loan for this Zamsolar project. I’ve reinvested the rapayment in other solar projects on Sunfunder.

The Solar Scout program has grown tremendously since the first recruits joined in January of 2013. A year later, the number of Solar Scouts has grown to 450; your loan helped 50 of them start on the right track. In the last several months of 2013 Zamsolar tried a different approach to managing their Solar Scouts. Instead of providing the scouts with products on consignment to sell, the scouts buy a product sample at a discounted price to use while promoting the product to potential customers. After submitting orders, the scouts will then receive products from a Zamsolar manager and are responsible for delivering them to their customers. Since buying a product sample is a commitment in itself, this new approach motivates scouts to be proactive with selling solar lights. As a result, more Solar Scouts are regularly selling products every month, and now a Solar Scout sells 3 to 4 products every month on average, earning commission totaling between $18-$24. With this extra income, Solar Scouts are able to put away some money for saving or better support their families.

Power Homes and Businesses in Kayunga

SolarNow provides affordable, high quality solar home systems to off-grid households and businesses in Uganda. Their solar home systems range 50 to 500 watts and because they’re modular they can be upgraded over time.

250 other people and I are making steady progress in this project’s funding. The project is now only $8,000 away from being fully funded, but we could use your help to top it off. So help out and invest, so this project will get fully funded and more people can benefit from solar.