Image: Solar Africa
This week, Rick the Gaay Fortman has begun his epic 7,000km journey from Cape Town to Nairobi to raise awareness for renewable energy in Africa. Note: the journey will be undertaken on a bicycle! The ultimate goal is to raise 50,000 Euros to change the lives of more than 4000 schoolchildren in Zambia. The money will be used to supply solar panels to twenty schools.
So who is Rick and motivates him? Rick has a background in aerospace engineering at the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, but then joined Royal Dutch Shell to become a project management professional, mainly on gas projects. Rick lived in Qatar for 3.5 years, where he worked on a Liquefied Natural Gas project, Qatargas 3&4, and later on the Pearl Gas-to-Liquids project. Rick will start an MBA with INSEAD starting January 2011.
Image: Solar Africa
So Rick decided to take a period of unpaid leave at Shell, and left for South Africa on Monday, August 23rd. He understands that those who don't know him personally may find his plan somewhat unusual. As an employee of an energy multinational that has almost suspended its operations in solar energy, many would not consider him the most likely person to undertake such an initiative. Rick explains that his time at Shell has made him realize the pivotal role of energy in modern society, as well as the issue of energy poverty.
The journey is scheduled to end in December 2010. Rick's future plans are undecided as of now. He may return to Shell, but move to their renewable energy division. But perhaps his travels will lead him to consider options he has never considered so far. Starting up a solar energy project in Africa?
Don't forget to check out Rick's website. Those who wish to make a donation, click here.
Source, video and images: Solar Africa
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