Foosteer Initiative Energy Access Program

Sustainable Energy Access Development Program SEADEP is a project implemented in partnership with Young Women in Farming-YOWIF, under its sustainable energy access program. The project is aimed at providing access to clean, safe, bright and reliable solar energy for off-grid ikere rural women farmers of Ajaoukta LGA, of Kogi State Nigeria, for lighting their homes and small businesses.

Cross session of some beneficiaries of the YOWIF solar lanterns

Problem
Many people living in rural areas around the country do not have access to electricity, as such many households and businesses rely majorly on burning of fossil fuels, like kerosene, petrol and diesel kerosene in generating electricity, which are very expensive and harmful to the health and well-being of the people.

Demonstration of how to operate the solar lanterns

Solution
In an attempt to address this challenge, our organization Foosteer Initiative in partnership with Young Women in Farming-YOWIF multi-purpose cooperative, under its Sustainable Energy Access Development Program, designed a solution called YOWIF Solar Lantern Rental System, aimed at providing off-grid rural women farmers access to safe, clean, bright, reliable and affordable renewable solar lanterns for lighting their homes&businesses. 

50 families are currently benefiting from the program. A charged lantern goes for as low as N50.

Documentation of cooperative members

Brief overview

FOOSTEER INITIATIVE COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Links to the immediate public health consequences of COVID-19 pandemic are those of economic and food security. The pandemic has devastated households, communities and people across the globe.

As the world grapples with the COVID-19 crisis, there is an urgent need to build and strengthen vulnerable rural communities resilience in coping and adapting to the new ways of living and doing things amidst COVID19 &post COVID-19 pandemic era.

Foosteer Initiative in responding to COVID19 have being at the frontline working in rural poor marginalized communities where vast majority are illiterate and lack access to information, conducting door to door sensitization on COVID-19.

Our strategy was to educate the community about #COVID19 and personal hygiene while providing basic palliatives and personal protective materials(e.g foodstuffs, facemask, hand gloves&sanitizers) vulnerable groups.

Prior to our visit, over 70% of members of the community didn’t believe Nigeria had an outbreak of Corona Virus although learnt about it from radio announcements.

Findings from our activities showed increased worry, anxiety& hunger in communities.

Beneficiary of Foosteer COVID-19 palliative support

COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent lockdown have impacted negatively on vulnerable households particularly women / children headed households who earn their income daily, but can no longer afford to feed their families.

We also observed decline in farming activities, most community Foosteer visited lamented of increased cost of basic Agricultural farm inputs such as improved seedlings, fertilizer and Agro-allied chemicals.

Smallholders’ farmers complained of none availability of government subventions for smallholders farmers at the moment due to a shift in Nigerian government focus to tackling the COVID-19 pandemic across the country.

Also children who ought to be in school are at home roaming about, losing out on an opportunity to learn at school because schools are shut down all over the country.

60+ households benefited already.

RAPTURE

Jesus is coming very very soon.

What is happening globally is a great reawakening for the body of Christ to put it's house together,

in preparedness for the glorious home going.

HOW PREPARED ARE YOU?

REPORT ON OPEN DATA CELEBRATION EVENT LOKOJA/NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION

This year’s International Open Data day was celebrated on 7^th March 2020 worldwide. It is an annual event that promotes awareness and use of open data. It takes place globally, usually in February or March. Typical activities include talks, seminars, demonstration, and training.

Haven received grant support of $300 from Open Heroine to organize an event to commemorate 2020 Open Data Day. Our team at Foosteer Initiative Lokoja were able to plan and execute a one day face-to-face meet-up to share local skills with Nigerian civil society women in open data on citizen participation in the government, through participatory budgeting. Highlights of the event includes; brief description about Open Heroine /and Open data day, facilitation session on meaning of Open data, Citizen Participation and participatory budgeting, diversity and inclusion in civil society, feminism and gender. The event had three (3) breakout sessions for brainstorming, group discussions and presentations. It was an interactive session for all participants with very rich discussion contribution from all.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

The event which took place in Lokoja, Kogi state Nigeria, brought together 36 women from the six (6) geopolitical zones of Nigeria, representing a state each of the 36 state of the federation.

Participants were sensitized on the concept, uses and benefits of open data; particularly how open data can help streamline government services, stimulate economic opportunities, encourage innovation, improve public safety and reduce poverty.

Feedbacks from participants indicated that 90% of them found the program very educative as they had their knowledge increased as it relates to open data, Citizen Participation and participatory budgeting, diversity and inclusion in civil society, feminism and gender.

WAY FORWARD

As part of the feedbacks from participants of the event was to make the event as regular as possible, not just waiting till next year when it becomes another day for open data day celebration, we will like to make this a monthly or bi-monthly program, where my team and I will be able to reach out to more women in the society the message of open data, citizen Participation and participatory budgeting, diversity and inclusion in civil society, feminism and gender, thereafter expand to other states in Nigeria and neighboring African countries.

PHOTO GALLERY

FOOSTEER INITIATIVE 2019 REVIEW

Foosteer Initiative is committed to improving lives of vulnerable women and children in poor communities through the use of integrated innovations.

We are proud of the work we do, in partnership with some donor organizations, and would like to share  highlights of the work and our impact so far across our our focus areas: Health, Education, Energy Access, Climate Action, Leadership/digital security, Agriculture, Sustainable peace and democratic development.

Foosteer E.D (center) at Youth farm 2018

Since inception, Foosteer's drive towards achieving strategic impact goals can be measured by the following indicators.

HEALTH:
Through strategic partnership with primary health centers and ART centers (Anti-retroviral Treatment centers) 5000 PLHIV ( people living with HIV) have been educated on HIV positive living, approximately 15% increase in ART enrollment, increase in ARV adherence, increase in referrals and improved health and well being of vulnerable rural women and children living in low income communities. 

15000 in-school youths across secondary schools in kogi state have been sensitized on sickle cell anemia.  

3500 expectant young community women educated on early breastfeeding initiation and exclusive breastfeeding for atleast the first six months of life, 7000 young nursing mothers educated on infant health and nutrition, 3,500 expectant mothers educated on hypertensive disorder of pregnancy and PPD ( pst par-tum depression). Increased the rate of breastfeeding among 7000 young lactating mothers in kogi state. Raised awareness for mental health and drug/substance use and abuse among 2500 youths. Distributed 100 long lasting insecticide mosquito nets to community women in 3 low income resource settings of kogi state.















EDUCATION: 
Through strategic partnership with Khan Academy, teach SDG and Global schools, 3000 in and out of school children from 15 low income communities have been impacted with open education resource (OER), 5% increase in primary enrollment for the girl child in Ajaokuta community of Kogi State Nigeria.

ENERGY ACCESS and CLIMATE ACTION:
Through strategic partnership with power for all, energy for impact, GEF ( Global Environment Facility), energy practitioner network, Foosteer Initiative energy access program have brought 15-30% savings on household income in off grid, communities of kogi state, 95% increase in income and job opportunities. Approximately 50kwp capacity installation through solar lanterns, solar home systems and micro power grid. Educated 50,000 community men and women on climate change and planted 3,600 trees across kogi state.


AGRICULTURE: Through strategic partnership with young women in farming (YOWIF), Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk sharing system for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), and Farm Chique, Foosteer initiative have strengthened 500 rural women to launch successful agribusiness through the provision of micro and inclusive financing. 250 women accessed land and land use.

DIGITAL RIGHT and INTERNET SECURITY: Internet has emerged as the most empowering tool for 21st century. However, the new tool can also be subject to discords and confrontations with government of the day. Foosteer as part of its commitment to building a more just and equitable society works to increase capacity of press freedom organizations, media NGOs, media outlets, and several front-line defenders and CSOs through training on citizen media advocacy and legal defence.

SUSTAINABLE PEACE AND DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT: Over 30,000 citizens have been impacted through civic education, media advocacy programming, inter/intra earlier cultural programming, sustainable peace and dialogue as well as promotion of national unity and religious tolerance.

Fossteer E.D (right) with Ambassedor Sean Hoy (ireland Ambassador to Nigeria/ECOWAS) June 2018

Gender Equality: Coalision based-advocacy for women right, Gender-based violence awareness creation among 5000 indigenous community members, 1500 vulnerable rural women empowerment and improved livelihood. 500 women with economic independence and control over benefits. 10% reported gender-based violence cases handled satisfactorily by local task forces.

Enabling Digital Communication Wealth for Development

Internet has emerged as the most empowering tool for the 21st century. However, the new technology tools can also be subject to discords and confrontations with government of the day. There are already reports of government aiming to curb internet freedom. Since 1995, governments around the world are making efforts to balance a need to deal with serious issues such as security, internet freedom, internet accessibility, but repressive societies, these concerns often serve as convenient pretext to engage in censorship or surveillance of the internet that is stated to violate the right and privacy of users and threaten the free flow of information and access to internet.

Foosteer co-founder Emmanuel Obafaiye (1st from right) participating at the 2019 Nigeria School on internet governance 

Foosteer Initiative as part of its commitment to building a more just and equitable society works to increase the capacity of press freedom organizations, media NGOs, Media outlets, and several frontline defenders and CSOs by providing training on citizen media advocacy and legal defence.

This is made possible through partnership and collaboration with UN special Raportuers around the state of digital security, media  and advocacy experts. 

THE ROLE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR EQUITABLE AND QUALITY EDUCATION IN NIGERIA

Education is widely recognized as one of d most essential components 4 poverty reduction. However in Nigeria about 10.5 million children aged 5-14 years are not in school. 

Addressing this challenge, @FoosteerNGO via its equitable and quality education program runs an academy that provides access to open education resource to vulnerable groups particularly girls and women from low income communities in Nigeria. 

With support of of @EmmanuelOE_ @ccorey223 and khan academy (an open education resource platform), pupils from low income communities of Nigeria have access to Open Education Resource (#OER), bridging the educational gap in Nigeria.

Renewable #EnergyAccess and low cost internet connectivity makes this possible, electricity and internet in classroom typically boost performance on key educational indicators and provides other benefits to students.

 

You can learn anything, only trust the process!

Khan Academy

In-school Community Sensitization on Hand washing and School feeding Program

DATE: 13/3/2019

LOCATION: ASPS1 AJAOKUTA KOGI STATE

As part of the organization's program objectives for 2019, foosteer initiative organized in-school community sensitization on Hand washing and school feeding, for pupils of primary 1 to 3 in ASPS1 ajaokuta Kogi State, Nigeria, 120 pupils participated in the exercise which was conducted in the school compound during their break period. Hand washing is the first step to a healthy living, and school meals helps pupils concentrate on lessons in class, from our research, most pupils from this community go to school in the morning on empty stomach and as such can barely comprehend what is being taught in class.

Hand washing, also known as hand hygiene, is the act of cleaning hands for the purpose of removing soil, dirt, and microorganisms. If water and soap is not available, hands can be cleaned with ash instead. Medical hand hygiene refers to hygiene practices related to medical procedures. 

Foosteer Executive director (center) with staff of ASPS1 Ajaokuta

Why Wash Your Hands?

Keeping hands clean is one of the most important steps we can take to avoid getting sick and spreading germs to others. Many diseases and conditions are spread by not washing hands with soap and clean, running water.

Packing of Snacks and drinks from Foosteer Initiative for pupils

Washing hands prevents illnesses and spread of infections to others. Hand washing with soap removes germs from hands. This helps prevent infections because:

• People frequently touch their eyes, nose, and mouth without even realizing it. Germs can get into the body through the eyes, nose and mouth and make us sick.
• Germs from unwashed hands can get into foods and drinks while people prepare or consume them. Germs can multiply in some types of foods or drinks, under certain conditions, and make people sick.

• 

  A cross session of excited pupils with the meals

• Germs from unwashed hands can be transferred to other objects, like handrails, table tops, or toys, and then transferred to another person’s hands.
• Removing germs through handwashing therefore helps prevent diarrhea and respiratory infections and may even help prevent skin and eye infections.

Teaching people about handwashing helps them and their communities stay healthy. Handwashing education in the community:

• Reduces the number of people who get sick with diarrhea by 23-40% 
• Reduces diarrheal illness in people with weakened immune systems by 58%
• Reduces respiratory illnesses, like colds, in the general population by 16-21% 
• Reduces absenteeism due to gastrointestinal illness in schoolchildren by 29-57% 

SUSTAINABLE ENVIRONMENT ACTIVITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM - SEADeP

Mr. Emmanuel Project coordinator having a practical session with ASPS1 Ajaokuta Climate Change Club members

Sustainable Environment Activity Development Program SEADep is a brian child initiative of foosteer light. The project is about unleashing Human Capita towards reducing climate change impact through Sustainable Environment Activity Development Program in schools.

The role of educational institution in lastmile distribution of Tree plant as a means of proliferating Climate Action and mitigating climate change impact for a sustainable environment.
The project involves; improving education, awareness raising, human capital and institutional capacity development on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.

ASPS1 Ajaokuta Climate Change Club members Ajaokuta LGA set to plant their first set of trees

Promoting mechanism for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in Nigeria, focusing on local and marginalized communities, women, youths and school children.

Our goal is to plant 1000 trees each in all 774 Local Government Areas of Nigeria.

Please kindly contact us for partnership and sponsorship details foosteerinitative@gmail.com or +2348036235548, together we can create a sustainable environment for the unborn generation.

ACCESS TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY

The Organization Through it’s Foosteer Light Initiative, support poverty reduction mission by developing and delivering RE (Renewable Energy) systems to rural households and businesses in SSA(sub-sahara africa). While the focus was on pv shs, foosteer initiatives based in Nigeria also supported agro-business, biomass and gas projects.

Foosteer has a secondary mandate, that of helping connect rural areas to the world through (solar-powered) information technology. Although registered as an NGO, it is run, for the most part, as a not-for-profit enterprise. The organization’s solar PV program represents its largest business line, purchasing solar PV panels and other systems components (i.e., batteries) from a range of foreign and local suppliers; and assembling, selling, installing, and, where necessary, financing them. 

The Nigerian market for SHS is considered to be relatively large. Approximately 75 percent of households do not have accessibility to electricity, low levels of urbanization, and a very slow political and economic reform process have made establishing a traditional energy network (or grid) very challenging. Furthermore, the high density of the Nigerian population means that, even in rural areas, there are significant concentrations of potential consumers. 

The first renewable energy initiative (Installation of 650w SHS in an off-grid residential building) that foosteer implemented was a donor-led and focused on demonstrating the functionality of the technology, FISHANDHOOKS GLOBAL NETWORK awarded the project in 2013  the project was implemented same year, the system is still functioning till date.

Foosteer Light Initiative tagged SUSTAINABLE ENERGY ACCESS PROGRAMME is a project with two major components; system 1&2, Solar Lamp Rental System (SLRS) and Solar Home System (SHS) respectively.

The Solar Lamp Rental System SLRS, powered by community charging stations provides cleaner, safer, better lighting. An integrated micro-processor on the lamps provides accurate records of kerosene replacement, while the Solar Home Systems SHS can power smaller community businesses. i.e Barber’s shop, Provision shops etc

Characteristics of target population includes:

Off-grid populations (especially rural) households with relatively high energy expenses and no access to grid electricity or other reliable and affordable electricity supply sources, strong emphasis is on the “Base of the Pyramid” (BoP) households with a daily income below USD 2, also Off-grid, rural micro-enterprises such as village kiosks, agro-processors and community centers that are currently dependent on diesel generation sets for electricity supply.

WHAT WE DO:

A Private Energy Provider (PEP) for off-grid areas

• Renting out SHS for fixed monthly tariffs

• Selling KWh in villages with Village Grids

• Selling light per hour/bar with portable battery lamps

PROBLEM/OPPORTUNITY: 

140 million people in Nigeria still have no reliable access to power.

The traditional electricity grid will reach neither half of this population.

Despite this, most of them are served by mobile networks.

FOOSTEER INITIATIVE FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT offers Micropower – small-scale, local energy for off-grid and underserved communities.

Agriculture is a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economy, with cultivation of cash crop meant to serve as a major employer approximately 32%. Energy is an important part of modern  Nigeria agriculture, accounting for 25 percent of input costs. A lack of stable and available energy sources is an issue, which leads farmers to rely on expensive, polluting diesel generators as a backup source.

FOOSTEER INITIATIVE FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT provides Solar-powered agro-processing machinery with focus on Sustainability through commercial viability for both the agro-allied entrepreneur and their respective business patronage.

MISSION FOR LIGHT INITIATIVE:

Our mission is to develop profitable business opportunities in Nigeria and in Sub-Sahara Africa while meeting community energy and connectivity needs, effecting a Technology and Know-how Transfer particularly in West-Africa countries by catalyzing at least US$20 million in investment for medium scale off-grid energy projects over the next two years, which will increase access to electricity for African enterprises and impact the lives of millions of power users in these countries. This ambitious vision requires an elevated partnership built around concrete commercial and developmental interests.