Project Manager: Danmajyid (Carol)
This project is to purchase 50 solar panels for Daiqian Village in order to improve the local people’s living condition and reduce the heavy burden of women’s tasks.
Asia Foundation Funded this project
Danmajyid is from Daiqian Village, Zhaxixiulong Township, Tian zhu County, Wu wei Region, Gansu Province, China. She is currently working towards an Associate’s degree in English at the Qinghai Normal University, Nationalities Department, English Training Program.
What? To supply 50 solar electricity generating panels for 50 households in Daiqian Village in order to improve the lives of the villagers.
Who? Daiqian Village, Zhaxixiulong Township, Tianzhu County, Wu Wei Region, Gansu Province, PR China.
Photos of the project implementation
The project manager tests the solar panels in the factory.
The villagers unload the solar panels from the truck in the picture.
The project manager and the solar expert train the villagers how to use it.
The project committees members collect local contributions from the villagers and let them make fingerprints on paper.
Dala is thirty six years old and he says they will no longer need to stay in dark nights without light.
Aa skyid is forty two years old and she says she can do works as much as she can at night and she also enjoys listening Qinghai video station.
Project Summary
Project title: Solar Electricity Generating Panels Project for the Daiqian Village.
Project goals: The overall goal of the project is to improve the living conditions in Daiqian village. The immediate goal of the project is to supply 50 solar electricity generating panels for 50 households in Daiqian Village.
Location of project: This project is located in Dai Qian Village, Zhaxixiulong Township, Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County, Gansu Province, and PR China. Daiqian is in the west of Lanzhou, and 63km from Tianzhu County Town. From Tian zhu County to Xining is 220km. Daiqian Village is one of the small villages in a big village called Zha xi xiu long Township, which includes Dai Qian, Shi Lun, and Zai Ku villages.
Total beneficiaries: There are approximately 250 people in Dai Qian Village benefited directly from this project. The villagers no longer need to buy candles and kerosene for lamps. This project can save money which is spent on candles and kerosene and also can reduce health problems.
Implementation organization/individual: Danmajyid (Carol), PalChen (the village leader), Shado Tsering and Nadrub Tso (Daiqian village project committee members) and Shem Women’s Group.
Contact Group: Shem Women’s Group
Funds received: Source, Amount, and Date received
The Asia Foundation funded this project for a total of 40,970 rmb and the project manager received funds on April 16th 2009.
Details of the project activities
1. During 2007 winter holidays, the project manager spoke with the people in village about what kinds of projects might improve their lives. They said that a solar panel project was the most needed project and would greatly improve local people’s lives.
2. In May 2008, discussed the project with the village leader. And the villager leader told the project manager that the village needs solar panel project.
3. In May 2008, held a meeting with the villagers and discussed the details of the project.
4. In August 2008, talked to the solar generating panel company (Nima Company) and discussed the price and the quality of the panels.
5. Competed the proposal
6. Funds were received on April 16th 2009
7. Solar electricity generating panel project committee was established with the participation of villagers. This committee was composed of four people -two women (Nadrub Tso) and Danmajyid (Carol), two men (PalCHen and Shado Tsering)
8. Held meeting and discussed about how to purchasing materials.
9. Collected local contributions from the villagers.
10. Project manager tested solar panel’s quality in Nima Company which in Xining, the capital city of Qinghai.
11. Contracts signed with the Nima Company’s president.
12. Hired a truck to transport solar panels from Xinig to Daiqian Village.
13. Held meeting again and select poor families who will have solar panels.
14. Solar expert trained villagers how to use solar panels properly.
15. Distributed panels after villagers signed their names with finger print on paper.
16. Took photos during the implement project.
17. Wrote final report.
18. Sent the final report with photos and receipts.
Project Finance
|
Original Budget |
Actual Cost |
|||||||
| Receipts # | Item | Donor Contri bution in rmb |
Local Contri bution in rmb |
Total Cost in rmb |
Donor Contri bution in rmb |
Local Contri bution in rmb |
Total Cost in rmb |
Difference in rmb |
| #1 | Solar Panel |
40,000 |
10,000 |
50,000 |
40,000 |
10,000 |
50,000 |
0 |
| #2 | Transpo rtation fee |
800 |
0 |
800 |
800 |
0 |
800 |
0 |
| #3 | Manage ment expense |
170 |
0 |
170 |
170 |
0 |
170 |
0 |
| Total |
40,970 |
10,000 |
50,970 |
40,970 |
10,000 |
40,970 |
0 |
|
Shem paid 500rmb as project manager payment.
Delays, Difficulties, and lessons learned
Delays
There were two reasons that delayed the implementation of the project. First, because of special situation, it was very hard to implement the project at that time. The villager leader asked the project manager to delay the project when she got the money. It was not because she didn’t tell the government and villagers before she planned doing this project. So she had to wait until the middle of the April.
Second, the project manager had to wait two days after to order solar panels. The company doesn’t t have enough solar panels in their storehouse. So the project manager had to wait until they finished making solar panels.
Difficulties encountered when implementing the project
The driver was unfamiliar with the road from Xining to Tianzhu. The project manager also never went home use the new road. The driver said the road people often use to go home is not good, so he chose another road to drive to Tianzhu. Since the project manger and the driver are unfamiliar with this new road, the driver drives to wrong direction and wasted more time on the way.
During the implementation project, the weather was very unpredictable. It rained on the way when the project manager transports solar panels to Daiqian village. It was very hard to drive on the muddy road.
Another difficulty is a few people who didn’t get solar panels had complained why they can’t get it. They said their conditions are as same as those people who are considered poorest in village. The project manager explained to these complaining people that their conditions are little better than those families who already chose by villagers. The project manager knew they also really need this project and told them that she will try best to apply another solar panel project for them in the future. They trusted her and hoping she can apply solar panels to them.
Lessons learned
throughout the implementation of the project, the project manger acquired experience on how to dealing with different people and have learned how to contact with Companies and drivers. These ways can guarantee solar panels safely transport to the village and also can repair if something happen in the future. After all this, she felt more confident to negotiate with others and come to agreements. She also learned how to manage the project process and experienced that when one met difficulties one has to search more ways to figure out, and should not think there is no hope. One should challenge our life in different situation. Everything has a good result at the end, it depends on your attitude that you took responsible or not. So the main point is trying best to reach our goal. Don’t give up easily when face problems. Also, the project manager learned some strategies of how to make decisions.
The project manager realized confidence is the most important for being a project manager, especially female manager. Don’t be afraid that there will be no result when you face problems. Actually, women have a low position in project manager’s village; most people have negative stereotypes towards women and think that they are unable to do something important like men. So she thinks that one have to show your ability and let them see women can also do something important, but one need to have confidence in order to keep pursuing goal even when others doubt about you. Now, some people’s opinions toward women have changed after she implemented the project. Also this project will benefit generation to next generation.
Interviews of the project beneficiaries
Interview1
This is Danzen’s falimy. He said they no longer need to buy candles and use butter for light. This way they can save around 200rmb each month and also they have enough butter for eat. Especially, Denzen’s old parents appreciate to have chance to listen King Gesar’s story. Before his old parents go to bed early or chanting after they finished dinner, but right now they are able to listening Tibetan famous story called King Gesar which they really enjoy.
Interview2
BSod Nmasjyid is forty two years old in the picture. She says she can do works as much as she can at night and she also enjoys listening Qinghai video station. She is good at making embroidery in Daiqian Village. She could spend more time on it at night. Right now, she can concentrate on housework and herding livestock in daytime, and try to make more embroidery and cloth shoes at night under solar light. Her family needn’t to buy cloth shoes and embroidery from market anymore.
Interview3
These two girls are sister. Small one is in grade three and taller one is in grade six. Two of primary students mentioned they won’t get punishments from their teachers anymore. In the past, they needed to help their mother to drive back livestock and do housework. Their homework had to delay to night and they can’t finish on time. Also once time, a candle burned taller one’s book when candle fell down and she got a serious punishment from her teacher. Teacher beats her hands with a narrow flat bamboo. After they had solar panel, they can finish their home work on time and also good for their eyes.
Thanks letter
Translation
Dear the Asia Foundation,
Firstly, on behalf of all the villagers, I want to sincerely thank you. This is the greatest thing that ever happened to us. In my village there are only a few rich and capable people who could do such a great thing. With your support we have solar panels in fifty households, which has made our lives much easier and improved our life condition. We do not have very much cash income or resources; the only way to earn cash income is during the summer months through collecting herbs. Thus it is like to climb up to the sky to have this kind of project in our village without your assistance.
Before we don’t have solar panels in our village, Women can’t finish their tasks on time, such as to sew, embroider and baking bread. Students can’t stay at night. They have to help their families to do housework after finished school. So they have less time to spend on their study.
Now, thanks to your assistance, we have solar panels, which we had been yearning to have for years and years. With this solar panel project, it eliminated many problems we had in our daily life. Once again on the behalf of all the villagers I want to say thank you to our donor and Shem staff members.
I will organize all the villagers’ power together to protect the solar panels, for the sustainability and will use it carefully.
Daiqian Villager Community
May 7th 2009
List of recipients
Letter of Intent
Receipts
Receipt #1
Solar Panels: 50,000 rmb
Receipt #2
Transportation fee for solar panels: 800 rmb
Receipt #3
Phone Call: 30 rmb during implementation the project.
Original Proposal
Project location
Daiqian Village is located in Zhaxixiulong Township, Tianzhu County, Gansu Province, and PRC. It is in the west of Lanzhou, the province capital, and is 63km from Tianzhu county town. From Tianzhu County to Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, the distance is 220km. Daiqian village is one of three small villages that together make up Zhaxixiulong Township. The other two villages are Shilun, and Zaiku.
Population
There are 357 villagers in 59 households in Daiqian village. The villagers are all Tibetan. Of the 357 inhabitants, 124 are women, 159 are men. There are 25 students currently studying, and 49 younger children.
Most villagers in Daiqian practice a nomadic lifestyle. To earn their living, the villagers herd yaks, sheep, and goats. Between March and May, the villagers move one hour’s walk away to a spring pasture where they live in tents. Villagers stay at the spring pasture until June, when they move to the summer pasture, which is an hour walk away. From June until late August, most inhabitants reside in small huts made of stone and plastic sheeting. Then, they move to an autumn pasture which is a 20-minute horse ride away. Throughout the autumn, they again live in tents until the end of October. Then, they move back to the village for the coldest winter months. Most elderly people and some children live permanently in the winter houses, which are made from adobe. Some young adults leave the village area to earn cash income in the service industry. Many stay outside of the village for years at a time, working in restaurants or hotels.
Education
In this village, 10 percent of the people are literate, not including the current school students.9 percent populations are old men who were monks or herdsmen when they were young and now have wives and families. Among the village children there are 25 students now studying: 3 university students (2 boys and 1 girl), 6 high school students (4 boys and 2 girls), 7 middle school students (4 girls and 3 boys), and 9 primary school students (6 boys and 3 girls). There are 134 young children in the village who could not continue their education beyond primary school. On average, one child in each family from Daiquian village goes to school, but still some families do not want to send their children to school. These families think that an education is waste of money and time, as their children are unable to get jobs in the future. It is especially common for female students to be kept from school. Their families think girls should stay at home to fetch water, herd yaks and sheep, or do house work for their families. Sometimes, very poor families take their children with them out of the village to earn money, working in restaurants or as hotel cleaners.
Cash income
The first way people in Daiqian village earn money is from livestock. Ten years ago, villagers had abundant water and grasslands in DaiqianVillage. Each family owned two or three hundred sheep and one hundred yaks and made a good income. Villagers produced butter and cheese and sold livestock to earn money. In recently, because of nature disaster caused grassland become desert and more outsiders migrated into village. Therefore grassland is limited for people to herd livestock and they can’t sell them and produce butter, these problems cause village economy to decline. Especially, people need to use butter for light, so no more butter left for eating and selling. There used to be enough butter and cheese to use for butter lamps and human consumption, as well as to sell for income. Now the villagers earn 300-500 rmb ($40-$67) per year from selling butter or cheese. With this money, people can buy kerosene fuel for lighting. Although kerosene is cheaper than butter lamps, the smoke is very black and is damaging their eyes and throats. The second way of making money is to go out of the village to find work. Adults who are able to work outside or go out to dig caterpillar fungus, it’s a kind of plant which is very difficult to find. One caterpillar fungus can sell for around 5-7 rmb ($0.50-$0.90US). People usually go to dig it at the beginning of May and come back home in the middle of June. Each person can earn about 600-800 rmb ($75-$100US) for two months work. This money is also used to buy candles and kerosene.
Herding
All of the villagers in Daiqian village are nomadic, but they have few livestock because they have no water. In recent years the grassland has become more like a desert leaving the livestock with no grass to eat and no water to drink. This means that villagers cannot sell their livestock and cannot produce a lot of butter and cheese, lowering their economic condition. When villagers earn a little money, it is all used to buy candles, kerosene, and other things needed in every day life, like medicine and salt.
Agriculture
Daiqian village is the smallest village in Zhaxixiulong Township. The village has no agriculture due to the harsh climate. Another impact is villagers have no money to build greenhouse to grow vegetables.
Project goals
The overall goal of the project is to improve the Daiqian Village people’s living conditions, including reducing the heavy burden of women’s tasks, and increasing numbers of girls and boys attending school. The immediate goal of the project is to buy 50 solar electricity panels for Daiqian Village. There are still nine families, but they already have solar panels.
Current household expenditure for fuel for light
1) Butter
An average household comprised of seven people will use about 1.25kg of butter each month. This means that 15kg of butter are consumed per year. A supply of butter for one year of light costs 450 rmb. Most families make and consume (as food or fuel) all of their butter themselves. Due to the environmental conditions stated above, there is no longer enough butter available to sell, which has reduced households’ cash income.
2) Candles, Kerosene and other expenses
On average, every household in the village uses 360 candles per year. The cost of these candles is between 72rmb (for durable candles – 3rmb x 24 candles) and 430rmb (1.2rmb for 360 candles) each year.
Some families use home-made kerosene lamps to provide extra lighting. Each household needs to use between 5 and 7.5kg of kerosene per year. Kerosene costs 2 rmb per half kilogram, so the total household cost is between 20 and 30rmb each year. If a family owns a radio, they must replace the batteries about every two weeks. This results in an average yearly cost of 130 rmb.
Problems
There is no electricity for the nomadic people of Daiqian village. Lack of electricity causes several problems for the nomads:
1. No electricity to them remains isolated from much of the outside world because they cannot listen to the radio. This solar panel will have radio on it and people can get much information from outside. I explained how radio valuable for their life in benefits.
2. The nighttime work environment is dark, causing many difficulties, especially for women. The darkness causes eye problems, and there is not enough light for women to sew, embroider, or complete other necessary or income generating tasks like baking bread, making shoes for family members and soft sheep skins for robe.
3. It is difficult for children to study at night, because their school finished around 4:20. Then they generally need to walk for half one hour to get their home. It’s nearly dark when they arrived. They still have no time to study. They help parents to drive livestock back home, collect yak dung, and add fuels in stove when mother cooking. So night is their only free time and to finish their homework.
4. It is difficult to enjoy a family meal together at night due to a lack of light. In nomadic area, people usually have dinner until seven o’ clock when they drove back livestock from mountain.
5. Kindling candles can cause a fire hazard in the tents. The reason is yak tent is made by yak hair. When wind blowing, if candle accidentally collapse, its will easy to catch fire with tent or wool stuff that they use.
6. Smoke inhaled from the candles and kerosene lamps causes respiratory problems for all household members, especially for women who generally spend more time indoors. It does can make people get TB or other diseases.
7. A large amount of butter must be used for candles, instead of being used for human consumption as food or sold for cash income. If a guest comes no butter in bowl, it’s considered a shame. Because they producing butter. This guest will think family wife is too lazy or not able to make butter.
8. Nomads have to spend money on kerosene, candles, flashlights and batteries, which could otherwise go towards other household necessities such as medicine, clothing and basic food items.
Benefits
1. The villagers will have greater access to information about the outside world. If the project can be accomplished, then the villagers will be able to listen to the radio for three hours each day, with lighting. The Qinghai Tibetan Radio Station has many programs that are of great importance to rural communities. These range from general knowledge programs, news (both local and world), weather reports and folktale discussions. This is of great use to all Tibetans who want to know more about their culture. With radio access women will be able to learn as they work. Students’ general knowledge levels will increase, which will help to improve their school grades. With weather forecasts available through the radio broadcasts, families will be able to plan their herding practices in advance. This will allow them to better protect their livestock from possible disasters, thus ensuring the stability of their livelihood.
2. Women will have improved health because electric light will create better lighting for their night time work and will eliminate the problem of smoke. The occurrence of lung diseases such as emphysema and bronchitis will be reduced.
3. Students can help their families in the daytime and at night they can do homework under the bright light. With more time to study, students can improve their general level of education, which will in turn lead to higher exam scores, and a higher likelihood of them continuing their education over time.
4. The families will be able to eat their dinner together. They will not have to worry about candles and lamps being blown out. They can see each other when they having food.
5. Solar panels will greatly reduce the use of candles and kerosene lamps and thereby greatly reduce the threat of fire.
6. One charged battery can provide eight hours of bright light. With this light, women will have enough time to finish their work at night. They can arrange their daily’s work very well in each day. They needn’t worry finish chores without late dark night. Also, women will learn more about the outside world because they can listen to the radio when they do work like mending, embroidering and weaving.
7. Butter is an important basic food in Tibetan areas but every year the local people use at least 1/4 of their butter for butter lamps. If the solar panel project is accomplished they can use that butter as food, or can sell it to increase their cash income.
8 If households do not have to purchase kerosene, candles, batteries, and other materials associated with lighting their tents and using a radio, this money will be used on other necessary household items. With money to purchase medicine, basic food, and clothing, general living and health standards for families will be raised.
Project beneficiaries
This project will benefit fifty households of 250 (137female and 113male) people in Daiqian Village that located in Zhaxixiulong Township, Tianzhu County, Gansu Province, and PRC.
Gender Equality
If this project is accomplished, women in Daiqian will have more time to join village activities and learn more about news from the outside world, both Tibetan and Chinese. Usually most women in this village have a lot of work to do during the day, leaving them no time to participate in meetings or village activities, so they lack outside information more than men. With solar panels, women can participate in activities or meetings during the day and they can finish their work at night. As a result, women’s voices will be heard more regularly in village matters. They will also have more time each night to spend making goods to sell, and mending clothes and tents. With more butter, and items to sell, women’s position as income generators will be increased. They will also have greater choice as to how to spend the extra cash (e.g. sending more children to school, buying medicine, clothes).Finally, in my experience these kinds of development projects automatically rise of women’s capabilities in the village consciousness and thus increase the status of women.
Governmental support
In January 2007, I discussed this project with the second ranking government official for Tianzhu County, Ma Gong bao. He said that this is a great project and gave me full permission and encouragement to go forward with this proposal. The Daiqian Village leader, Huaqian, also agrees with this project idea and has encouraged me to seek funding. The village leaders have agreed to assist in monitoring the project.
Project Activities
1. During 2007 winter holidays, I spoke with the people in my village about what kinds of projects might improve their lives. They said that a solar panel project is the most needed project and would greatly improve local people’s lives. [Done]
2. In May 2008, I discussed the project with the village leader. He told me of the village need for this solar panel project. [Done]
3. In May 2008, I held a meeting with the villagers and discussed the details of the project. [Done]
4. In August 2008, I talked to the solar generating panel company (Nima Company) and discussed the price and the quality of the panels. [Done]
5. Write proposal for funding. [Done]
6. Send proposal to donors
7. Receive funds
8. Collect local contribution
9. Purchase solar panels from Nima Company in Xining, Qinghai Province
10. Transport the solar panels from Nima Company to Daiqian Village, ZhaxixiuLong Township, and Tianzhu County, Gansu Province.
11. Hold meeting with villagers and village leaders and give instructions about how to use the solar panels.
12. Distribute solar panels to the poorest 50 households.
13. Supervise the project.
14. Interview local people (children, women, and men) about the success of the project.
15. Take pictures
16. Write final report
17. Send final report with all pictures and receipts to donor.
Timeframe
This project will take eleven days from the time the proposal is approved and funding is received:
2 days: Receive funds and collect local contribution.
2 days: Purchase the solar panels from Nima Company.
1 day: Transport the solar panels to Daiqian Village.
1 day: Hold meeting with villagers and village leaders and give instructions about how to use the solar panels.
2 days: Distribute solar panels to the recipients.
3 days: Interview beneficiaries and take pictures.
Detailed project budget
|
Item |
Price per item |
Number |
Donor |
Local |
Shem |
Total |
|
Solar Panel |
1,000 |
50 |
40,000 |
10,000 |
0 |
50,000
|
|
Transpor |
0 |
800 |
0 |
0 |
800 |
|
|
Project |
Bus fare phone call |
|
170 |
0 |
0 |
170 |
|
Project |
|
|
0 |
0 |
500 |
500 |
|
Total cost |
|
|
40,970 |
10,000 |
500 |
51,470 |
Local contribution: 10,000rmb
Grant request from donor: 40,970rmb
Sustainability (Monitoring, Evaluation, and Measuring Results)
I will be responsible for monitoring the project. I will set up a Working Group of five people: two village leaders (Londrup and Huaqian) and three village women (Caijyid, Zhuoma and me) to monitor the project. These people have been chosen by the village and have agreed to be responsible for the project’s implementation. This group will distribute solar panels and be in charge of problem resolution.
The solar panels will be purchased from Nima Company, which guarantees the battery for two years and also guarantees the solar capture panel for ten years. The company will replace the solar panels if there is a problem. If a solar panel has problems, the villagers will contact the village leader, Huaqian, and he will contact the project leader (Danmajyid) or contact Nima Company for repairs or replacement. The project does satisfy the long-term requirements of the beneficiaries. The villagers will accept individual responsibility for all future operational and maintenance costs (not covered by warranties) incurred after the project’s completion.
Personal Experiences
In 2005 and 2007 I did twice second-hand clothing project for Daiqian village, which was supported by the British Consulate in Shanghai. In 2008, I did a running water project, which supported by the The Council on International Educational Exchange Ping Grant and Shem’s private donors. After my research, I found out they lead a difficult life without electricity, therefore I want to do a solar panel project and want to provide a good life condition for them.
Photos
Families were having food under the candle light.
Candle light is extremely harmful children’s eyesight and lung.
Project location is marked with bold black string. See on map.
