"Please pray for the Peace of Israel" Psalm 122  [Chapter-20]

NBA Star Dikembe Mutombo

NBA Star Joins Israeli Innovators to Power Africa

"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.  The Lord is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens."  (Psalm 113:3–4)

The Israel-based non-profit Innovation: Africa, aided by nine basketball greats, is empowering Kinshasa, the hometown of NBA legend Dikembe Mutombo. The group was in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last week to bring solar technology to Mutombo's hometown. About 90 percent of the people in the DRC live without electricity, compromising many areas of life, including global connectedness and economic opportunities on the one hand, and community infrastructure and important health options on the other.

School children cross at a busy intersection in Kinshasa, the capital and

the largest city of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Some critical issues that affect communities off the grid include limited access to clean water, mortality issues affecting newborns, and education, since people are confined to studying during daylight hours or face using precious fuel reserves for kerosene lanterns. This week, the hoop-loving delegation and Innovation: Africa personnel visited Mutombo's hometown, Kinshasa, to participate in installing solar-based renewable electricity at the Biamba Marie Mutombo Hospital. Because of the solar units, the hospital will be able to refrigerate medicines and provide nighttime lighting for surgeons.  (Times of Israel) "We knew the need was great, but we also knew we’d need a lot of help to launch operations there," said Innovation: Africa's founder and president, Sivan Ya'ari.  "Dikembe and his foundation were our ideal partners.  They’ve been doing great work in the country for years. … Plus, we’re huge fans of Dikembe both on and off the court, so it’s exciting for our team and supporters to work with someone we so admire."

Sivan Ya'ari, the founder of Innovation: Africa (YouTube capture)

Ya'ari told The African Sun Times that Dikembe's group helped to focus the innovators on top priority projects in the area and to build a network of DRC partners and contractors that will need to be involved in maintaining the solar projects over the long term. The July 8–11 trip also resulted in installations of Israeli solar technology at Georgette's Orphanage, which houses 150 children; a 740-student school; and a medical clinic outside Kinshasa that serves 11,000 people.  (African Sun Times) "With similar climates and natural resources, Israeli solar, water and agricultural technologies are a natural fit for African villages," Ya'ari said.  “Our mission is to share the knowledge and expertise developed in Israel with people and communities that need it.”  (Blog: Size Doesn't Matter)

 

An Israeli solar trough in the Negev Desert.

Empowering these communities through self-supporting solar technology might also enable residents and service providers to exist off the national electricity grids that do exist, providing greater autonomy and financial opportunity for African villages hooked up to the sun. This Innovation: Africa project will bring its total number of solar installations and agricultural projects in DRC, Uganda, Malawi, Ethiopia, Tanzania and South Africa to 80, impacting 677,880 people.  (The Africa Sun Times) "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."  (Matthew 5:15–16)

 When Hamas missiles launch at midnight, mothers have seconds to get their sleeping children into the safe room.  No other nation on earth would tolerate being placed in such a position, and yet so many international leaders are insisting that Israel show restraint in defending herself, which she actually has done. At such a time as this, your continued prayer of Israel and the Jewish People is really making a difference!

 “You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain.  You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, 'Here is your God!'”  (Isaiah 40:9)

 "Comfort, comfort My people, says your God.  Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins."  (Isaiah 40:1–2