
In June 2015, GRID Alternatives volunteers traveled to Los Chaguites and worked alongside local community members to install solar panels on the primary school. The school was built in 2008 by the Nicaraguan government and funds from the Japanese Aid Program. The absence of electricity in the community did not allow the teachers to fulfill the curriculum because they could not use videos and music which assist in teaching kids about traditional Nicaraguan music, dance, and culture. The primary school is attended by 120 children and there is currently no “secundaria” (high school) in the community.
GRID volunteers installed a battery-based photovoltaic system that provides lights and AC electricity for the school, bringing energy access and creating a safe place for community members to meet after dark. The PV system allows the school to serve as a central charging place for cell phones and other appliances that improve the quality of life in the community.
The community of Los Chaguites does not have a potable water system, so residents have to haul water from a nearby water source to their homes. Los Chaguites esidents earn their living through agriculture, having jobs in the nearby city of Jinotega, and through other informal jobs available in the area.