August 24th, 2012
We have officially made our first SMART Light transaction! With only 48 hours in Zambia, I have come to expect a few things: Internet data packages go fast, punctuality is a luxury, and to continually expect the unexpected. This last point (well actually the last two) was evident in my delayed flight, and very much alive in my first meeting with our local partner organization here in Zambia: Disacare.
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| Photo courtesy Edward Silva & Bryan Pon |
While in a Saturday meeting with management from Disacare, where Bryan and myself explained the opportunities and potential of the SMART Light, as well as trained our first potential entrepreneurs, we had 3 visitors show up. Although one was set up through Bryan’s network at UC Davis, the other visitors were a random couple from Japan and Sweden, who saw the SMART Light online, found our location, and happen to find us all there on a Saturday.
After getting some hands on experience in explaining the value of the product, its advantages, and potential uses, we had truly demonstrated that this light would work in their operation. They thought it was a great product for their sustainable development project in Southern Zambia, and bought one light, with immediate plans to purchase 15 more. Although just a small stepping block towards our efforts of market research, product distribution, and providing a better, safer, and more affordable lighting source here in Zambia, it was a great way to spend some of our time in this first meeting.
Overall, the meeting went well. And besides the expected obstacles of any new venture in a foreign country, our list of ideas run deep, the opportunity for the success of this project is strong, and more importantly, the potential for personal and cultural growth are promising.
We will be spending the rest of the weekend preparing for our tasks next week: seeking collaboration with local NGO’s; visiting and displaying our lights with locals in surrounding compounds and villages; getting to know Zambian consumer demands much clearer; and exploring how to meet these goals through the strategic use of entrepreneurs and distribution models. And if nothing else gets accomplished, we will surely find a way to lure the chickens away from our kitchen. Over and out from Lusaka, Zambia—more pictures soon!
Edward Silva and Bryan Pon, UC Davis
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