GRID travelers installed solar systems on a rural off-grid community in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, home to more than 100 residents who earn their living from growing crops and raising livestock. Families cultivate corn, sorghum, and pasture, and many families raise livestock owned by farm owners in the nearby town of Ciudad Darío.
Since the national electric grid does not reach the community, families use candles, kerosene lamps and flashlights to light their homes. Kerosene lamps are not only expensive but also dangerous for indoor use. They are a fire hazard and emit fumes that can cause chronic respiratory illnesses like asthma. GRID has been working in the community since 2015 to bring solar to homes and community buildings so families have better access to reliable electric lighting, news, communication, entertainment, and income-generating opportunities.
Solar allows access to electric lighting at night and the use of small electrical appliances in their homes. Travelers learned about the history and culture of Nicaragua, experienced what life is like in a rural off-grid community, helped install eleven battery-based solar home systems on homes, and participated in GRID's service learning curriculum to learn more about sustainable international development.
Project Dates: June 22-29, 2024
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