Building the Next Generation of Solar Experts — Here and in Central America : CleanTechnica

Building the Next Generation of Solar Experts — Here and in Central America

Written by Carol Gulyas

Published on May 2nd, 2008

Here’s a chance to support a great group making a direct, positive impact on the global community: Northwestern University’s chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World has done rural electrification work in the isolated community of Santo Domingo, Panama. In the words of the Northwestern students:

“We collaborate with the village to provide families with electricity generated by solar panels. We will train and equip community members to install and maintain solar panel systems in the 14 households that comprise their core community. From April 24-May 13, 2008, our Panama Solar Power project is participating in a contest to earn a permanent spot on Global Giving’s website, where donors can view global aid projects and contribute to their favorite ones. If you visit the Global Giving website at this link between now and May 13, you can not only contribute to the project but help assure it a future stream of financial support.”

I love supporting projects like this because of the magnified learning that happens: not only do the villagers get trained, but college students learn more than they could ever learn in a classroom; they learn how to collaborate with people in need and put them in control of their lives.