AROUND THE WORLD
HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS OF THE NGO ESF
If there is one characteristic that motivates men and women to take action for a project
an objective or an ideal, it is the generosity that gives them energy and determination
as we have seen with the NGO ESF which actions with its 1.200 volunteers carried out
in close collaboration with companies partners and actors located in France and on 5
continents,has beeen leading since 1986 water and electricity accessibility projects and
operations around the world. Jean Yves RETIERE, regional delegate of the association
for the PAYS DE LA LOIRE region tell us the practical details of the various projects
carried out in addition to their development prospects.
"My commitment to the Non Governmental Organization
ESF has been effective since 2004 and i manage the res-
ponsability for the regional delegation since 2010 inclu-
ding an operational team with 4 members for a staff of
76 volunteers mainly based in the departments of the
Vendée and the Loire Atlantique".
Tell us Jean Yves RE-
TIERE while showing us the annual report from 2019
ESF with their specific features .The association which
is distributed in France on the basis of 14 regional dele-
gations develop and manage operations and projects
which mainly have 3 particularities as you can consult
on the 3 specifications as planned :
1 / DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
These are significant projets both in terms of their times of interventions in good balance with their lead times such as
electrical rehabilitation works outdoor and indoor facilities at THE PAGALA GARE Hospital in TOGO in Africa,the con-
tribution to the development of the village of AMPAZONY in MAGAGASCAR within the creation of a reliable and secu-
re network of access to water and electricity where ESF to be carried out the supply of electricity to the village farm
including the network of the primary school and the others places in addition to the very daring projects that we are
carrying out like that of the hydroelectric power station of the village of CHIMKHOLA in NEPAL. About the operatio-
nal achievements, we operate in project mode with a team of 3 to 4 people led by a project manager in collaboration
with our partners whether local or on sites as was the case for example in CAMEROUN with the cities of DSCHANG
and NANTES METROPOLE. Most of the time,the interventions for stays on sites are variable and take into account the
specifications and deadlines for finalizing projects and a stay of the team can last 10 days or even 3 weeks or more
with the relay on site to the teams of local achievements.
2 / EMERGENCY AND POST-EMERGENCY PROJECTS
Climatic or géological disasters cause disturbances which require rapid and effective interventions to restore networks
in addition to urgently meeting basic daily needs in power supply. ESF recently intervened in LIBAN in the same way
that the years spent in 2017 on the island of DOMINIQUE and in 2018 in INDONESIA following earthquakes and hur-
ricanes or our interventions, carried out in close collaboration and with the support of local authorities,others NGO,
the crisis center and support of the Minsitry Of Foreign Affairs (MEAE) and the French Embassy in particular for pro-
jects in INDONESIA allows operations such as the supply of streetlights and solar kits,the delivery of generators or
even some electrical equipment. In these emergency operations, we also have a role of support and coordinator like
the one carried out on the island of DOMINIQUE or 6 health centers equipped with solar power plants were add up
by 2 local companies on good coordination with ESF teams.
3 / SUPPORT AND EXPERTISE PROJECTS
Our desire is also to support and train men and women in the management and rationalization of access to water and
electricity and ESF mobilizes its teams also including qualified and certified members in the facility electricity networks
as was the case in 2018 in partnership with NGO Médecins Sans Frontières in Africa,In Central America,In Ukraine and
in Liban for expertise projects concerning both the analysis of electrical needs securing existing installations through
coordination and management for care units or pediatric camps.In addition to advices and coordinations, we also act
as a trainers and one of our most innovative projects is the creation of a teaching in electricity trades carried out at
DIOFOR in SENEGAL in partnership with the city of PANAZOL in Haute Vienne or, in parallel with the supply of basic
tolls necessary for an appropriate technical education, the possibility has been built for young senegalese to be trai-
ned in technical jobs useful for the needs of this country located at the western tip of Africa.
" One of the spécificities of our NGO is the diversity of
the professionnal backgrounds of our volunteers who
carried out a balance in the purpose of our missions
specified above or we must also coordinate the logistics
well, seek financial partners like welcoming new mem-
bers or organizing meetings within the delegation.Our
projects in years to come are, by example the CAME-
ROUN with the renovation of hospital projects or else
specific projects located in COTE D'IVOIRE,in GUINEE
or even in MADAGASCAR"." Everyone can be great be-
cause everyone can to serve" said Martin Luther King
and in our uncertain times or individualities progress,
we can only agree in this type of projects and initiatives
which combine cumulative individual dynamics,genero-
sity and openness and which are the proof that each of
us can do useful things for others in the world and so
strengthen the links that unite us all.
Report : Gabriel PAGE
Photos Credit : GABRIEL PAGE .ELECTRICIENS SANS FRONTIERES (Produced in 2019)
