Fyneface Dumnamene Fyneface and Helena Farstad have, since meeting in late 2021, been working on ways to limit the illegal oil bunkering activities in the Niger Delta, through the provision of alternative energy sources. These activities orchestrated by organised crime groups, also known as artisan oil refining, are exploiting the youth and adds to the oil spills and environmental destruction already happening in the region due to corporate misconduct.
We are so pleased to announce that the first project, of what we envisage to be a bigger programme, has finally reached the stage of implementation.
The village of Umuolu is one of many hard to reach communities of the approx 20.5million people who do not have access to electricity in the Niger Delta.
This is our second crowdfunder.
The first crowdfunder was set up to raise enough funds to cover set-up costs and the initial visits to engage the community. Our target was £5,000. We raised £5,740. This funding allowed us to complete the most important part of the first stage; to ensure the community was involved from the very beginning.
The picture below is one of the several visits to Umuolu.
Due to a series of events, political and administrative, that were outside of our control, a long period of waiting made us almost give up hope. Instead, however, we used the time to create a website, set up our governance, and ensure paperwork and processes were in place, so when the time did come, we would be ready.
And now our time has come.
We have raised another £20,000 on top of the first crowdfunder, from private, philanthropic, and corporate donations.
We now need another £35,000 to materialise the project covering logistics, labour, insurance and contingency.
When the project is implemented, hundreds of people will have access to reliable, affordable and renewable electricity to light homes and power businesses without having to rely on expensive, noisy and polluting diesel generators - or go without electricity altogether.
Getting our first project off the ground will not only be a great outcome for the people of Umuolu, it represents a huge milestone for us, and marks the first of a bigger programme of projects in the area. We have the pipeline of communities, we will soon have an operational project and that all important track record.
We have already once asked for support. You stepped up. We are now asking you again to help with an even more ambitious request.
Thank you in advance for whatever you can give, and for sharing this crowdfunder with your networks so we can reach our goal.
With love & courage
Fyneface and Helena