What would life look like without electricity? For people in The Gambia, sustainable electricity access could change their lives.
“There’s an ongoing problem in The Gambia with electricity. There are a lot of different departments and ministries trying to solve this problem. I met with them, I heard what their goals were for the country, what their vision for the country is, and I shared mine as well. They were very excited about this project.”
“There’s a lot of things children wouldn’t necessarily be able to learn, just because they don’t have electricity. There are certain times of the day that they won’t be able to study because when it gets dark: that’s it, everybody has to go home.” “Countless rural villages, like Tintinto Village, spend most of their day concerned with gathering enough firewood to cook food. Many villagers make a miles-long journey, even in rain or scorching heat, to collect the firewood. Villagers walk to a certain area where they usually get firewood and the sad part about that is that it’s almost empty. You could already see the trend that in a couple of months or a year they will probably have to move to another location for firewood alone.”
“Reliable, sustainable, clean energy could change that.”
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Mohammed Alboury Nije
Founder
Visions of Janta
Sustainability
The Gambia is a beautiful country, with beautiful people, and beautiful culture. In its rich history, its people have been, and remain dignified people. Janta aims to create an environment where Gambians in remote villages can sustain themselves. We have seen far too often, models of non-profit work that create a culture of dependency. This is far from Janta’s goal. Instead, Janta aims to empower existing local businesses and also help create new ones. Not only will these businesses produce the needs for these communities, but they will create employment opportunities and further boost the economies of rural Gambia, and the Gambian economy as a whole. We will be mainly investing in the Energy, Education, Healthcare, and Manufacturing/Processing industries in rural Gambia. These happen to be the most crucial aspects of daily rural life and these industries are severely underdeveloped.
Increase in the Rural Electrification Rate
Rural Electrification is the key to success in The Gambia. The rural electrification rate is at a staggering 13%. This continues to show the disparity in the quality of life between urban Africa, and rural Africa. This disparity is one of the main obstacles to quality education. Students in rural Gambia barely have any exposure to digitized education. This is an enormous barrier to quality education, as digital education has become so important in education systems around the world. An increase in the rural electrification rate will also ensure that hospitals in rural areas have a reliable supply of electricity. Until this disparity is ultimately reduced, the rate of development will be slower than desired.
Improve Access to Quality Education
As we have demonstrated with our pilot project, electricity opens up so many opportunities for schools. Education is one of our biggest areas of focus, as it has the potential to bring about a profound impact. With the introduction of electricity, we have the opportunity to create a digital learning platform that enhances the educational experience of students, as well as provides support for teachers to ensure that students get the best quality of education. Janta believes that quality education is a right for everyone.
Research and Development
Research and development is essential in every developing society. It has the power to propel nations towards exponential growth. Janta, therefore, aims to invest resources towards research and development that is specific to the Gambia and its needs. This specific approach will ensure that the Gambian people are benefiting from products and services that are essential to them. Furthermore, in our collaboration with educational institutions in the Gambia, we aim to elevate academic research in schools and universities. This will also include research into renewable energy in The Gambia.
Environmental Sustainability
High energy demands have left the environment in rural areas vulnerable to deforestation and erosion. Firewood remains the biggest source of fuel for rural Gambians. This has led to severe deforestation and erosion throughout the years. Through renewable electrification, we are reducing the dependency on firewood. Janta is also working on alternative energy sources that are more environmentally friendly, and healthier than the burning of firewood. Also, through our environmental sustainability goals, we aim to help Gambians gain access to clean water in an environmentally sustainable way.
Increase in Renewable, Sustainable, and Affordable energy
Access to electricity is important, but the price of electricity is more important. The average price of electricity in the Gambia is one of the highest in the world. This creates a huge barrier to development as operating costs for business are very high. This discourages many small business owners. The high cost of electricity also creates inflation, as high operating costs are charged to the customers. Furthermore, the average Gambian can barely afford to have electricity at home. It is therefore a priority for Janta, to bring affordable and sustainable energy to the Gambia.