The electrical service is unreliable in Sierra Leone, so each organization or business must have its own diesel or gasoline generator. CCSL`s generator is 15 years old and has inadequate capacity to power its 22 personal computers, lights and oscillating fans (no air conditioning.) When the voltage drops, the finance department, which needs computers for all their work, must circulate the building and cajole fellow employees to turn off their computers. In addition, the generator often breaks down.
While I was there, the generator failed. The office was like an oven and had no fans or lights, no computers or telephone service. Employees wandered out to the parking lot hoping for a soothing breeze and waited two hours for the generator to be fixed. I was told that sometimes it may take a day or two to repair the generator.
While not part of my assignment, I made a hewn plea to PDA for $6,000 to buy a new 25kv generator. They wired the money to CCSL within a week! It has to be one of the most effective contributions made by PDA this year — to now allow 40 people to operate more efficiently and reduce the frustration level at their jobs.
So thank you for your prayer support. I stayed healthy and took my malaria medication; I stayed out of harm’s way. The CCSL staff was so appreciative of my help.
Your contributions to PDA are making a difference in the lives of very poor but determined people. |
