Trojan Battery Company has been a long-term supporter of GRID Alternatives, generously providing donations of equipment for our International Program and other off-grid projects. This past May, nine Trojan employees had the opportunity to see GRID's work in action (and install some of their own batteries!) when they traveled to San Isidro, Nicaragua to install solar on a community school and health clinic. Trojan employee Nhi Sung recounts his experience in this special guest post.
Back in December 2016 when the program was first announced during Trojan’s corporate-wide “All Hands” meeting, I knew that I had to find a way to be a part of it. I was excited about the opportunity, but also hesitant only because we had a couple of important product launches on the way. Luckily, I was one of the fortunate ones to be selected for the 9-day volunteer trip with my fellow Trojan colleagues.
I was humbled and thoroughly enjoyed getting to the know the families and children in the community. I didn’t have any expectations going in, but the kids somewhere along the way stole my heart and it made it extremely difficult to leave. I wanted to get to know them more and learn about their hopes and dreams, encouraging the children to never give up on them.
Working with the Nicaragua (Nica) Grid team was amazing, they showed patience and guidance on what needed to be done. All the team members opened their hearts and gave us a warm welcome into their home country. Not everyone can do what they do, and I couldn’t have been prouder to work side by side with such outstanding human beings. I was fortunate enough to establish wonderful friendships, and I commend them on the work that they do. It’s truly inspirational!
And finally, working with my fellow Trojan colleagues was nothing short of brilliant. The selection of the Trojan team couldn’t have been better, and we complemented each other perfectly. The project drew us closer together and I learned something new from every team member.
Although the goal of providing power to a small community is what brought us together, the human connections with the kids, the Nica GRID team, and the Trojan family left an indelible mark on my heart. I hope that we were able to empower the people of San Isidro to create change and opportunity for those in need. The entire experience was without question remarkable and transformative, and something that I will hold dear to my heart.
