Dear friends,
As the month of May begins, we are pleased to give you a report on our charcoal project. You can read the regular field reports on the Global Giving page of our project.
Since the official launch of the Eco-Charcoal project in the first week of December 2012, the preliminary phase of our program is drawing to an end with the approach of the rainy season. ENVODEV has reached out to five different communities that have either received full training in the pyrolysis process (carbonization of biomass such as rice- or sesame-straw) or a preliminary demonstration in how pyrolysis works. Nya, the area that represents the greatest potential in terms of biomass availability, got a demonstration. Though showing a strong interest and readiness to learn, the group at Nya was not organized enough to receive the full training and equipment, according to the criteria our Chadian staff requires for any group that wants to participate in the project. Participating groups must have a well-organized structure, financially participate in the training we offer, and demonstrate the capacity to manage the transactions of raw materials from their pyrolysis site to our production center in Moundou. We are confident that by the beginning of the next dry season, the group in Nya will be ready to receive training. Nevertheless, the amount of exchanges as well as our demonstration in December have already prepared the ground for Nya to be part of the 2013-14 program.
Our team has done tremendous work to bring pyrolysis demonstrations and full training to three other village groups. Tilo, Badei and Domane are three new villages within our program. We have had the opportunity to work with organized groups within these three villages, to train and fully equip them (see pictures below). Each group has gained experience in the pyrolysis process and has already begun to send carbonized biomass to our production center in Moundou, though still on a small scale. Our production center in Moundou will receive a first shipment of carbonized biomass from the most recently trained group in the village of Domane.
Where does Belaba fit in the picture?
Back in November, we had the great pleasure of inaugurating the charcoal project at Belaba. Authorities, friends, press, and representatives of businesses and organizations were all invited and present. The group at Belaba, called APRO-ECO, has played an important role and will be among the villages that participate in the pyrolysis process (see map below). Christine Dadje, president of APRO-ECO, is among the members of the group that has accompanied ENVODEV in the training of the groups in Tilo, Badei and Domane. APRO-ECO will remain as a source of training power for future groups, and continue to directly contribute to the production process.
Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have regarding our program. We will be glad to give you more information. Thank you to all of you who have financially participated in this phase of the program, to all of you who have been following us, sharing our efforts in Chad to friends and family. We're eager to see the production phase take shape in the days and weeks to come!
- David De Armey
International Director
As the month of May begins, we are pleased to give you a report on our charcoal project. You can read the regular field reports on the Global Giving page of our project.
Since the official launch of the Eco-Charcoal project in the first week of December 2012, the preliminary phase of our program is drawing to an end with the approach of the rainy season. ENVODEV has reached out to five different communities that have either received full training in the pyrolysis process (carbonization of biomass such as rice- or sesame-straw) or a preliminary demonstration in how pyrolysis works. Nya, the area that represents the greatest potential in terms of biomass availability, got a demonstration. Though showing a strong interest and readiness to learn, the group at Nya was not organized enough to receive the full training and equipment, according to the criteria our Chadian staff requires for any group that wants to participate in the project. Participating groups must have a well-organized structure, financially participate in the training we offer, and demonstrate the capacity to manage the transactions of raw materials from their pyrolysis site to our production center in Moundou. We are confident that by the beginning of the next dry season, the group in Nya will be ready to receive training. Nevertheless, the amount of exchanges as well as our demonstration in December have already prepared the ground for Nya to be part of the 2013-14 program.
Our team has done tremendous work to bring pyrolysis demonstrations and full training to three other village groups. Tilo, Badei and Domane are three new villages within our program. We have had the opportunity to work with organized groups within these three villages, to train and fully equip them (see pictures below). Each group has gained experience in the pyrolysis process and has already begun to send carbonized biomass to our production center in Moundou, though still on a small scale. Our production center in Moundou will receive a first shipment of carbonized biomass from the most recently trained group in the village of Domane.
Where does Belaba fit in the picture?
Back in November, we had the great pleasure of inaugurating the charcoal project at Belaba. Authorities, friends, press, and representatives of businesses and organizations were all invited and present. The group at Belaba, called APRO-ECO, has played an important role and will be among the villages that participate in the pyrolysis process (see map below). Christine Dadje, president of APRO-ECO, is among the members of the group that has accompanied ENVODEV in the training of the groups in Tilo, Badei and Domane. APRO-ECO will remain as a source of training power for future groups, and continue to directly contribute to the production process.
Thank you for taking the time to read this newsletter. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have regarding our program. We will be glad to give you more information. Thank you to all of you who have financially participated in this phase of the program, to all of you who have been following us, sharing our efforts in Chad to friends and family. We're eager to see the production phase take shape in the days and weeks to come!
- David De Armey
International Director
Tilo: Kosguelbe Group Training date: 14 January 2013 Number of people trained: 17 | 
Badei: Madjilebé Group Training date: 22 February, 2013 Number of people trained: 30 | 
Domane: Mekasna Group Training Date: 09 April, 2013 Number of people trained: 09 |
Domane TrainingGhislain Rodoumbaye, ENVODEV Administrator, oversaw the training of the Domane group. To the left, Christine Dadje shows trainees how to fill the kiln used for the pyrolysis process. She explains the density of the biomass required, and trains them step-by-step in the carbonization of all the sesame-straw the group gathered for the project. The members of the Mekasna group are eager to learn. Domane is about 45 miles away from Moundou. Much of the road/path between Domane and Moundou is closed during the rainy season, cutting the villagers off from economic activity for up to five months each year. Participating in the Eco-Charcoal project is, for them, a valuable additional source of income. 
Current & Upcoming Activities -Check out our new website! We've simplified it. www.envodev.org -In June, tests on improved cookstoves will take place in Moundou. Charles Dokmo, our intern, will be spending two months in Chad. Charles will be doing research in N'Djamena for the charcoal project, expanding our contact network, and spending time in Moundou with our team in view of implementing improved cookstoves. What are improved cookstoves? Read more: Improved Cookstoves | 
Charcoal ProgramWith the Eco-Charcoal groups being trained throughout south-western Chad, a centralized location is being studied and developed in Moundou, the second largest urban area of the country. Urban centers suffer most from lack of fuels for cooking and heating. The centralized production and sales point will be a way to offer safe and efficient cooking fuel to the city, and an opportunity to earn income for the villages that participate in the program. To do so, ENVODEV is looking to build facilities for production, storage and sales, and purchase a new vehicle to ensure more decentralized training, follow-up inspections, quality control, and safer transportation for our staff. See exactly what the program is about. 
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