All in a Day's work: Cute kids and Green Tech

Efficient heating stove

Us with the kiddies

Kids saluting us

A few days ago, we took a day trip to visit the field operations of two of Grameen's social businesses: Grameen Shakti, which installs solar home systems, biogas plants, and efficient cooking stoves, and Grameen Shikkha, which is in charge of running pre-schools in mostly the rural areas of Bangladesh. Talk about two completely opposite businesses.

The pre-school kids attended Grameen's school every day for two hours, in a little open-air multi-purpose shack. It was basically four poles, a straw roof, and woven mats on the ground with some posters of letters and numbers on the wooden supports. They went through their daily routine of learning letters and playtime. They also introduced themselves individually. And they sang twinkle twinkle little star for us. It was hard to hear it, but it was extremely cute.

The Grameen coordinator that was with us was teaching the kids about the important things in life: wipe your little behind with your left hand (since you eat with your right hand in Bangladesh), brush your teeth AFTER you eat, and make friends with all your classmates. Now if that isn't wisdom, I don't know what is. Wish they had taught me that in pre-school.

Then we moved on to learn about how solar home systems are being installed in rural homes in Bangladesh in areas where the country's electrical grid does not reach. To be honest, I was surprised that such advanced technology would be found in the rural areas of Bangladesh. I mean, I associate solar panels with advanced technology and the developed world- ie something to be found in a Silicon Valley mansion, not on a simple tin or straw hut with cows lazing about outside in the rural villages of Bangaldesh, one of the poorest countries in South Asia. I guess it's like third world discrimation-ism? Then we also saw the efficient stoves that Grameen Shakti manufactures and sells to villagers that eliminate the smoke released, and increases the efficiency (thereby reducing the costs of wood) by 50% or more.

I think our least favorite of their green technologies was the biogas plant, for obvious reasons. I spared you all photos of the large cows releasing the "fuel" for the biogas plant. But, I was amazed that a family of seven needed 40kg of bio "fuel" to get them through the day. I guess they got used to the smell. One of the interns was unlucky enough to step in some of the "fuel" and we sure had a laugh at her expense the rest of the day.

Meeting Yunus tomorrow for the second time. I need to think of some good questions to ask him, keep up my reputation in my group as the "girl who always asks questions". You know, the one we always roll our eyes at in class. Yes, I have turned into THAT one. :)