Main focus of the YES-Africa Foundation is to establish a network of Young Energy Specialists in development areas. Within this line of work we are busy with the promotion of bio fuels at this moment. Especially the Jatropha Curcas L. tree in Tanzania has our attention within these efforts. See You In Djibouti is our way of generating extra publicity for what we are doing and educating people about the huge potential of this kind of oil seed farming. To drive around on biofuel will be the most concrete way we could think of to convince possible African oilseed farmers as well as local governance. Also in the Netherlands there is a lot of support to gain for biofuelled cars and trucks. The techniques are almost for 30 years around, but still nothing happens within Dutch lawmaking and governance. We just seemed to be forced to depend on expensive/ dirty crude oil. With our trip we hope to influence the general public  to become aware of this strange situation and perhaps more people will be triggered to participate in making this world a better place, like poverty reduction in Africa and taking responsibility for the future of our environment.

What climate change is causing is not really the issue (man or nature cycles itself) , the necessity to act and change lifestyles, consumptive behaviours and exploiting / destructive patterns is already unavoidable. Unless we have 3 more earths to use for the next 100 years.

YES-Africa is helping African people to help themselves, not by taking over the responsibility, but by working together and share vision, success and failure. Self reliance is an important  way of getting a better livelihood. We use a a bottom up approach. Together with local partners we are convinced that Jatropha gives people a strong perspective for generating income and reducing poverty. Markets are open, investors are searching for sound investments, but people need good guidance within this market. YES-Africa wants to make a positive contribution within this new ventures.

Mark, Arjan en Harry in Afrika.

YES-Africa (Young Energy Specialists Africa) was founded in the year 2000 by Dutch members of the YES-DC. organisation. In July 2000 members of the Washiriki network : Mark van den Bosch and Harry Kuijpers, took over the Foundation. Arjan Doeswijk joined later and now YES-Africa consist of three people: Mark as chairman, Harry as secretary and Arjan as treasurer. Many volunteers back the organisation. In the past Harry started first with building two biogas degisting units in Tanzania. October 2005 Arjan planted, together with local partners, over 60.000 Jatropha trees during a half year sabbatical leave. Local partners made an extension towards 100.000 trees during 2006.  In 2007 we are doing the Jatropha promotion tour and in 2008 Mark will stay 3 years to plant 1000.000 Jatropha trees for a sustainable business in oil and seeds.

For more on Jatropha click here or visit: http://www.yes-africa.nl/.