International Impact Stories

Solar-Roasted Coffee and Economic Development

Carmen is the president of El Regadio's women's coffee cooperative in Jinotega, Nicaragua. She worked with GRID to get a solar-powered coffee roaster and grinder for the co-op, allowing the women to create their own coffee brand and increase their incomes.

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Returning to El Regadio, Nicaragua!

Cristy, a repeat GRID traveler to El Regadio, Nicaragua, shares her perspective on how much the community has changed from her first trip in 2017 to her most recent trip in 2019.

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An Example of Leadership through Partnership

Partnership is central to the mission of GRID Alternatives and IGS is a great example of what a true partner looks like. A leader in delivering energy solutions to residential and commercial customers, IGS is one of GRID’s largest supporters of our International Program. Their multi-year support has enabled GRID to deepen our impact by bringing clean energy, clean air and clean water to more people in Nicaragua, Nepal and Mexico.

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Nicaragua: Through Volunteer's Eyes

Five volunteers and six GRID staff volunteers from the United States donated their time to help make possible the installation of a solar system and a coffee roaster for a women’s coffee cooperative in El Regadio, Nicaragua.

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Sharada Brings Health Services to Women in Nepal with the Help of Solar Energy

Sharada is a Nepali midwife who works in the Miteri Birthing Center in the remote region of Jumla, Nepal. With the help of solar energy, Sharada is able to provide better services to the women who come to give birth at the health post.

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Executive Director Blog: Borders

"Sometimes we can forget that most borders are creations of history and politics that were imposed on the land and on the people living there."

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Leandrus' Life-Changing GRID Experience

Leandrus is a Nicaraguan engineer who volunteered with GRID Alternatives to give back to his country and the experience ended up changing his life. Leandrus shares his motivation to become a volunteer and how he used that experience to switch careers and help his country provide for its citizens in a sustainable way.

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Women in Solar Program Launches in Nepal

GRID launched the Women in Solar program in Nepal last year, providing unique hands-on training for participants in their community.

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Life happens outside your comfort zone

In May 2019, Colleen Magee and eight of her fellow IGS coworkers returned to Ohio after a week-long journey with GRID to La Hacienda Orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico, where they installed a 27kW solar system. Colleen shares her experience and the impact of getting outside one's comfort zone.

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Casa Hogar Ebenezer Orphanage, Tijuana, Mexico: Case Study

With the installation of a 10kW solar system at Casa Hogar Ebenezer in 2017, the home has been saving hundreds of dollars on their electricity bills every month, with impacts that include the construction of additional dormitories and facilities for the children and staff who live at the home, availability of funds for emergencies and higher quality clothing and food for residents, and confidence building for the older children from the home who participated in the installation and have been in charge of maintaining the system itself.