2008 Woodie Awards
Video related to this article is available below.Issue date: 3/5/08 Section: News
Shedding light on a dark situation in West Africa
College senior raises money for solar panels that will bring electricity to a hospital in Gambia
Rachel Baye
While she was at the hospital, the chief executive showed her an estimate by the Gam-Solar Company that installing solar panels - which would solve the lack of electricity and running water problem - would cost $300,000.
Cunningham didn't have any easy solutions at the time. "There's not much that a 20-year-old can do about $300,000," she explained to the chief executive.
Or, so she thought.
In October 2006, Cunningham founded Power Up Gambia, a non-profit organization managed by the Delaware Community Foundation, with the goal of raising the $300,000 the Gambian hospital needs. With the help of the Gam-Solar Company, she also hopes to use the money to install solar-powered water and electricity.
"There are people like [Cunningham] who can identify a need that's significant" and make a big impact in a feasible way," said Biology professor Ingrid Waldron, who had Cunningham as a student.
Since October 2006, Power Up Gambia has raised $150,000, meeting half of their goal.
In January of this year, they installed the first solar-powered water pump at the hospital and installed energy-efficient light bulbs in an effort to reduce electricity use.
Cunningham hopes to raise the remaining $150,000 by the end of April. Although this may be difficult, she said she wants to install solar panels to provide the whole hospital with electricity before Malaria season peaks in July.
"Few projects in Africa ever meet the goals they set out," Cassanelli said. But "a lot has been accomplished in just two years."
Cunningham didn't have any easy solutions at the time. "There's not much that a 20-year-old can do about $300,000," she explained to the chief executive.
Or, so she thought.
In October 2006, Cunningham founded Power Up Gambia, a non-profit organization managed by the Delaware Community Foundation, with the goal of raising the $300,000 the Gambian hospital needs. With the help of the Gam-Solar Company, she also hopes to use the money to install solar-powered water and electricity.
"There are people like [Cunningham] who can identify a need that's significant" and make a big impact in a feasible way," said Biology professor Ingrid Waldron, who had Cunningham as a student.
Since October 2006, Power Up Gambia has raised $150,000, meeting half of their goal.
In January of this year, they installed the first solar-powered water pump at the hospital and installed energy-efficient light bulbs in an effort to reduce electricity use.
Cunningham hopes to raise the remaining $150,000 by the end of April. Although this may be difficult, she said she wants to install solar panels to provide the whole hospital with electricity before Malaria season peaks in July.
"Few projects in Africa ever meet the goals they set out," Cassanelli said. But "a lot has been accomplished in just two years."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
John
posted 3/05/08 @ 8:58 AM EST
Bravo! Good work, Ms. Cunningham! Good to know that there are still some people in this school whose horizons extend beyond Wall Street.
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