International Impact Stories

In July 2015, GRID Alternatives installed an off-grid photovoltaic system on a primary school in the community of Totumblita. 

The community of Totumblita, consisting of 19 homes and 180 inhabitants, is tucked behind a forgotten corner of the town of Ciudad Dario, Matagalpa. The government authorities refuse to repair the road leading to the community, making the community virtually inaccessible during the rainy season.

[[{"fid":"2691","view_mode":"425w_left","fields":{"format":"425w_left","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"height":"240","width":"425","class":"media-element file-425w-left"}}]] In March 2015, GRID Alternatives led a private group of 36 volunteers to Nicaragua to install 40 off-grid solar homes systems in the community of Potrero del Platanal (“Plantain Corral”), Boaco, Nicaragua.  The community of Platanal has approximately 285 inhabitants living with no access to conventional grid electricit

[[{"fid":"1624","view_mode":"425w_right","fields":{"format":"425w_right","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"El Guaylo","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"El Guaylo","class":"media-element file-425w-right"}}]]En enero de 2015, las voluntarias de GRID Alternatives instalarán un sistema fotovoltaico de 1 kW desconectado de la red convencional  en una escuela primaria en la comunidad de El Guaylo, Estelí.

[[{"fid":"2500","view_mode":"425w_left","fields":{"format":"425w_left","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"class":"media-element file-425w-left"}}]]In January 2015, GRID led a team of local, all-women volunteers in the installation of a 1kW off-grid photovoltaic system on a primary school in the community of El Guaylo, Esteli.  A part of GRID’s Women in Solar Initiative, this project gave Nicaraguan women interested in working in the growing renewable energy industry in Nicaragua a chance to gain e

[[{"fid":"2414","view_mode":"425w_left","fields":{"format":"425w_left","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Drip Irrigation Pilot","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"alt":"Drip Irrigation Pilot","class":"media-element file-425w-left"}}]]In December 2014, GRID Alternatives’ International Program launched a pilot project to improve the lives of small farmers in rural Nicaragua.  GRID Alternatives volunteers worked with local fami

In December 2014, GRID Alternatives’ International Program is launching a pilot project to improve the lives of small farmers in rural Nicaragua.  GRID Alternatives volunteers will work with local families and partners, Suni Solar S.A. and the National Union of Growers and Livestock Farmers (UNAG), to install a solar-powered drip irrigation system to provide water for fruits and vegetable crops to small family-run farms. 

GRID Alternatives acquired Power to the People and its Nicaraguan and U.S.-based staff team in 2014, bringing GRID's extensive volunteer and supporter network to help expand on the strong foundation Power to the People built. The GRID Alternatives International Program continues to support all of the communities Power to the People has served since 2008.

[[{"fid":"2940","view_mode":"425w_left","fields":{"format":"425w_left","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"height":"240","width":"425","class":"media-element file-425w-left"}}]]In April 2015, GRID Alternatives led a trip to Nicaragua with volunteers to install an off-grid photovoltaic system on a primary school in the community of Agua Fria. Agua Fria is a small town located in the department of Esteli, Nicaragua.  The community is made up of 159 people living in 30 houses