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Loading the Big Truck
28 August 2024: The team loads a big truck with 568 large 370W solar panels and 157 solar electric pressure cookers for delivery to the village shops. Along with Deputy Minister Dr. Chomanika's visit the previous day, this was a busy week! Rachel & Christina usually lease a smaller truck each week to deliver products to the village shops, but this week we had to transfer a large amount of inventory from the Blantyre workshop's on-site containers to make room for the contents of a new 40 ft container shipment arriving in early September.
Rachel & Christina liked this truck because it had a sleeping compartment in the cab behind the front seat, so they could get a good night's sleep while the truck driver drove between village shops. With the smaller trucks they have to sleep sitting upright on the truck's front bench seat.
Victoria records product serial numbers while Eggrey and Christina carry the big 370 solar panels from one of the on-site shipping containers to the big truck.
Everyone pitches in. In the background, Agnes the daytime security guard and Judith the lunch cook heft a panel onto the truck bed, with Eggrey carrying a panel in the foreground.
Christina compares the size of two 100W panels used in last year's pump system to the 370W panels used in this year's pump system.
The truck is almost full as the solar electric pressure cookers are added.
Christina demonstrates that one strong woman can carry a 370W panel, but it's easier if, in the village, two women carry the panel, hose and pump to the field together.
The final step: cinching the ropes and closing the curtain.
And away we go... Rachel & Christina directing the driver to the village shops on this week's route.