It took more than half a year for political unrest over the presidential election to calm down. The original president had not recognised his popularly elected successor, moved to the east coast and unceremoniously proclaimed Tamatave as the capital. Roadblocks, curfews, police and military deployment followed. After many national negotiations and numerous mediations by organisations, including the UN, the heated situation was brought to an end and a nationwide civil war was prevented. Regula writes about this in a report: "Our carpenter, Germain, conveyed to me on behalf of all employees and many sympathisers of ADES the thanks to Equipe ADES Switzerland and all the donors that we did not let them down in the war situation and stood by them. The fact that Switzerland was the first country to recognise the new president touched them very much".

Even a first cyclone in living memory over Toliara did not make ADES' second business year any easier. The construction of the first studio was damaged and interrupted and the new move-in date was postponed to spring 2003. In the meantime, a studio in a rented house serves as a provisional solution.

But there were also rays of hope. Towards the end of the year, five of the necessary seven ministers had already signed the application for official recognition of ADES as an NGO in Madagascar. "A turbo speed by Madagascan standards", as Regula notes. A ten-day stay of Chantal in Ejeda also resulted in the order of 67 solar cookers. This large order resulted in the cancellation of all Christmas holidays for the then five employees.

Talking of figures: Expenses according to the income statement in 2002 amounted to CHF 34'771, income to CHF 49'961. The profit of CHF 15'190 was quite respectable!

• Annual Report 2002
• Letter accompanying the Annual Report
• Fourth report
• Projet contre la déforestation: energie alternative

• 27.01.02: MIVA Magazine
  Car for the introduction of cooking without wood in Tuléar, Madagascar (read pdf)