Project Solar Bulb (Bangladesh)

Dear Donor,  

This is to let you know that we have some disappointing news regarding the project Solar Bulb. We have carried out 1 trial and covered only one house after which we performed close monitoring. During the monitoring we have received news that the Solar Bulb did not only not provide enough light during sunny days, but water also leaked into the house during rainy days. Residents have had many complains and they had to use electric bulbs anyway to perform their daily chores. As a result we had to take the bulb down and also replace the tins for the residents of the house (because of the leakage).

We have also visited the site where the same project was implemented by other organizations in Bangladesh and we hear that the residents aren't very happy about the technology there either. There are complaints regarding lack of light provision through the bulbs and also water leaking into the house. Therefore we thought it is best not to go ahead with this project and cause more damage rather than doing good. 

We heard this technology has worked very well in the Philippines which is why we were very excited about this project which would aim to provide light through cheap and innovative means. However, we think that either it was more of a media hype than doing actual good, or the conditions in Bangladesh are not similar enough to the Philippines to make this project a success. 

Given the situation, we are thinking of transferring the remaining funds of the Solar Bulb Project to Green Channel's other project "EnviVolunteerism: Building Awareness through Action" which has been a huge success.  Green Channel at present has only these two projects on Global Giving. While this project has not shown good results, the other project "Envivolunteerism: Building Awareness through Action" has shown excellent and promising results. Bangladesh is a country that does not have trashcans in the streets for public use. So we are aiming to set up trashcans firstly all over Dhaka (the Capital) and then to the rest of the country, This is a huge project and requires a lot of funding and resources. We have started the project and this summer we have already installed 10 trashcans in Gulshan Avenue of Dhaka. The awareness campaign held after the installation was a huge success and Dhaka City Corporation has agreed to empty the trashcans on a regular basis. People have actually began to use the trashcans and the streets are already a lot cleaner. We have received very good comments and feedback from the public, passers by and nearby shopkeepers regarding the installations of the trashcans. Multiple project reports, about the project have also been posted at:http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/green-channel/updates/  

Therefore, we propose the transfer of funds from this project to the other project of Green Channel. http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/green-channel/ Please check out the details of the project at the link above and let us know if you have any complain regarding the use of your donated funds for the other project. GlobalGiving also has a guarantee that you are welcome to use which would allow you to reallocate your funds if you wish, to a different GlobalGiving project. At this point we can assure you that your funds are being handled and used in the best possible ways, by Green Channel, which is why actually we thought of transferring them to a more promising and productive project. If you do wish to take advantage of the GlobalGiving guarantee, please contact Sonja Lehner at slehner@globalgiving.org at GlobalGiving no later than August 31st. She is also available to answer any questions you may have.

We look forward for your support and cooperation, 

Regards, 

Navin Rahman 

Founder and President 

Green Channel