Dear colleagues and SAWBO friends, we are excited to share our July newsletter with you! In this newsletter we will highlight some of the places around the world where SAWBO is making a difference, and also some of our upcoming animations.  As always, please feel free to share your suggestions with us at animations@illinois.edu.

Notes from the Field

Use of Solar Panels to Charge Cell Phones in Rural Villages of Mozambique
(by Dr.Julia Bello-Bravo)

This past June two SAWBO team members, as part of an externally funded grant, had the chance to visit communities in rural Mozambique to better understand the use of cellphones in farming communities. One question we always get at SAWBO is: “If people live in villages far away from the electrical grid, how do they charge their cell phones?” Well, the answer is simple – portable solar panels. The cheap and portable solar panel revolution is well underway in Africa. Even in remote communities, one can spot solar panels here and there during the middle of the day, sitting on the top of a thatched roof or even propped up on a jerrycan. These are being used to provide the electricity that keeps cell phones charged.

Dropping price of Internet Access: Facebook in a Rural Village of Benin

(by Dr. Barry Pittendrigh)

Earlier this spring SAWBO team members had the chance to visit a village in Southern Benin about a two-hour drive from the capital Cotonou. During that visit, they spoke with a 20-something man whose job was to spray the local crops. He was asked about the type of cell phone he had and what he used it for in his daily routine. He pulled an Android phone out of his pocket and proceeded to explain how he used it for many different things including accessing Facebook. The first question the SAWBO team members asked was “Where do you go to get your Internet service?” He laughed and said, “Why would I go anywhere? I can get it here and right now.” He went on to explain that he paid around $2-3 (USD) per month as part of his cell phone service to access the Internet from his Android phone in his village. It is hard to say how many others in the village were doing the same, however, the trend is clear – smart phones and Internet are in villages in Africa and their penetration will likely only increase over time. Thus, there is considerable long-term potential to deploy knowledge directly into villages through smart phones.

SAWBO NEWS

Fighting the Dengue Outbreak in Tonga

Take a look at the latest news published about the animation created to help fight against a Dengue Outbreak that took place in Tonga. This animation is now available to others with educational purposes in our video library as well as in our YouTube channel.

We Are Working On It

These are some of the projects we are working on that will be available soon in our Video Library. Please help us work faster and reach our goals. A donation of any size is greatly appreciated, and goes a long way towards ensuring the completion of these and other projects.

Financial Scams

The best way to protect yourself from financial scams is by being informed about the common strategies that a scammer might use. This 2D animation will give you some tips to help you protect your money.

Colorectal Cancer Screening

Colorectal cancer is a disease in which abnormal cells in the colon or rectum divide uncontrollably, ultimately forming a malignant tumor. Early stage colorectal cancer has no symptoms, but it is the best stage to discover this disease.  It is highly curable when discovered early. Screening can prevent the cancer from forming, or delay the onset, which is what this project will educate viewers about.

The Jerrycan Method for Proper Bean Storage

In this next animation we will explain how to store your beans using the an airtight jerrycan. By following this method, you can prevent insect damage to your beans after harvest.

Links of Interest