My name is Peter Nakamura and I am one of the newest members of the VillageReach team. I am currently based in Nampula, Mozambique to help coordinate a project funded by USAID to help individual households gain access to propane. The project is coordinated through VillageReach and its social business, VidaGas – the largest distributor of LPG (Liquid Propane Gas) in Northern Mozambique. As the next step in its growth, VidaGas is working to expand its customer base to households in order to diversify its clientele and expand the availability of a cleaner and more efficient source of cooking fuel than charcoal or wood (which are the most common types of cooking fuel in Mozambique).
In order to increase the demand and awareness of LPG among households, we will be launching a social marketing campaign tailored to the realities on the field. From personal demonstrations of around 10 people to big events where we expect over 200 people to attend, we will be testing different methods to stimulate demand and awareness. In the end, our goal is to be able to learn from this experience and create a social marketing model and toolkit which we will be able to implement in other developing countries and with a variety of product (whether that be bed nets or batteries).
Check in regularly for updates on our progress.
Peter Nakamura, Project Administrator