Together we can turn poverty into power -- jet power -- and change the lives of hundreds of rural Zulu women farmers by giving them a chance to participate in a major biofuel (greener jet fuel) endeavor sponsored by Boeing, South Africa Airways and SkyNRG called Project Solaris.
These hardworking Zulu women can become biofuel farmers.
The major partners in Project Solaris will soon be looking for small holder farmers in South Africa to grow the tobacco plant that can be made into bio jet fuel. Solaris is a nicotine-free and GMO-free crop variety that yields significant amounts of sustainable oil that can be used as feedstock for bio jet fuel.
The Zulu women farmers need our help in making the necessary contacts and getting certified to join this important world changing effort.
Solaris tobacco plant
Oil from the seeds of the Solaris tobacco plant can be converted into jet fuel.
About the Zulu women of South Africa. They are an extraordinary group of women. They have the same hopes and dreams as the rest of us: to have a successful business or career (open a shop, start a farm, sell chickens), educate their children, own a home, and become self-sufficient.
But they are struggling in the post-apartheid era in South Africa. They have largely been forgotten by their own government. They work hard but they are still struggling--they lack options. At the Zulu Education and Empowerment Foundation, we provide options for them through education. We see the biggest economic potential right now in biofuel.
We want to empower these rural women to become biofuel experts.
Zulu women discussing what kind of small business they would like to start. Many said "sell chickens, start an organic farm, start an herb farm. They all have dreams of becoming self sufficient, educating their children, and having a home.
About The Solaris Biofuel Project: This is a game changer in aviation. The major players are Boeing, South African Airways, SkyNRG and The Roundtable on Sustainable BioMaterials. They are working together to produce greener jet fuel for airplanes. Current jet fuel is very toxic for the environment.
The project just produced its first crop of Solaris and soon they will be looking for small farmers to help grow and harvest the plant. Through our partner on the ground, The Rural Women's Movement, our goal is to assist the rural farmers in becoming part of this important project.
Test farm
Ian Cruickshank, head of South African Airways Group Environment Affairs, says, "The impact that the biofuel program will have on South Africans is astounding: job creation mostly in the rural areas, new skills and technology energy and stability and macro-economic benefits to South Africa.”
We can help make flying more sustainable and give the Zulu women a chance to live their dreams. We can help them go from poverty to power.
And if anyone says we can't do this -- we say "just watch us!"
Carrying water from the well could soon be unnecessary.
Read what others are saying about Project Solaris:
“A sustainable aviation biofuel industry presents a chance for this smallhold farming community to pursue economic development opportunities that would positively impact their livelihood. As part of Boeing's efforts to build better communities worldwide, we are working to ensure positive outcomes for the environment and, most importantly, for the people of Southern Africa.”
- Lianne Stein, Boeing vice president of Global Corporate Citizenship
“SAA seeks to drive development of sustainable biofuel supply chains in a way that enhances our region’s economic opportunity from local agriculture and energy production. Our joint project with Boeing and RSB is a first step toward the goal of ensuring that our efforts benefit smallhold farmers, given their importance to our country’s rural economy.”
- Ian Cruickshank, SAA Group Environmental Affairs Specialist.
Media about Project Solaris:
Watch this video on YouTube about how SSA plans to charter a test flight using biofuel in 2015.
Read an interesting article about how tobacco may fuel the planes of the future in Smithsonian Magazine.
Learn more about the partners:
The Zulu Education & Empowerment Foundation (ZEEF) and the Rural Women Movement of South Africa (RWM) are partners in this important effort.
ZEEF is a San Francisco based non profit foundation to raise money for educational projects for Zulu women and RWM is a dynamic local grass roots organization dedicated to improving the lives of rural women in SA. Together our goal is to make a difference in the lives of these proud women going forward.
We want to get this high flying party started!
We are asking for funding to connect the Rural Women's Movement and rural farmers with the Project Solaris partners especially South African Airways. ZEEF's founder, Pat Walker, has been in the aviation field for 30 years and can make this happen, but she needs a little help. She has worked with Boeing as a client and can facilitate meetings between the SAA/SkyNRG and the RWM women.
ZEEF and RWM will also start an education and certification program for the women once the introductions and contacts have been made.
Join us in creating a positive and prosperous future for the women of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Future site of the Rural Women's Movement's Agricultural Training Center and farm as part of Project Solaris. You can help make it happen.
The project we request these funds for will make a huge difference in the lives of thousands of Zulu women farmers who are currently disadvantaged. It would create meaningful work for these women and girls, whose numbers are estimated about 3 million in the area, by creating jobs that would provide them with a steady income stream over a period of many years.
Potential biofuel farmers.
Sizani (RWM) and Pat (ZEEF) want to thank you supporting our dream for the Zulu women farmers.
What Pat Walker of ZEEF wants you to know:
The first time I went to South Africa I fell in love with it. Nelson Mandela had just become president and I went to Pretoria to attend one of SA's first international Air Shows.
The people were so full of hope about the future and what it held for them. Over the next few years traveling into Southern Africa, I felt a special kinship with the Zulu women in KwaZulu-Natal. I could see how much they struggled with so little money available, with food scarce, and with HIV rampant in their communities.
I thought: with just a little help they could achieve much! So my vow was to find a way to help them.
Getting the rural women connected and established in Project Solaris we can get them on the road to prosperity. I truly believe that or I would not be doing this. But I need your help.
Your generous donations can start these women on a path to economic independence.
More about Pat Walker: Pat founded Walker Communications: a successful advertising rep firm working on projects for many Fortune 500 companies and national ad agencies in various technical fields, including aviation, satellites, space, aerospace, homeland security and finance. As President of Walker Communications, she traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. It was during her trips into South Africa that the seeds were sown for her philanthropic projects.
In an effort to connect philanthropic travelers with disadvantaged people to share ideas, Pat founded The Cultural Explorer in 2007. After spending time with the Zulu communities in KwaZulu-Natal she began to focus on volunteer tourism, with a special focus on working with Zulu women. Seeing the need for a major non-profit effort to help educate rural Zulu women and girls, she founded The Zulu Education & Empowerment Foundation in 2013.
Special thanks to artist Renee King. Renee has been on several of our trips, is a world traveler, talented artist, and an all around fabulous person. Please check out her website.
Special thanks also to Linda Nacif for the use of her wonderful photos, for her love of the Zulu women, and her valued support.