AGUA FRIA, MATAGALPA - SOLAR SCHOOL WITH "SOL"
TRIP DATES: FEBRUARY 27 – MARCH 6, 2011
To see more PHOTOS of this project please click here.
The community of Agua Fria, also known as Mount Sinai, is located at the end of an 18km dirt road leading to the closest large town of Ciudad Dario. In 1998 Hurricane Mitch destroyed much of the original community that was then located 3-4 km away from its current location and down a steep hillside lower in the valley. Since then, most of the population has moved to resettle at its current location and the community has worked to rebuild homes with no existing infrastructure and few resources. The new location does not have a good source of abundant water. The families depend on subsistence farming and are living in extreme poverty. This remote community is only serviced by a bus three times a week.
There are approximately 40-50 homes in the community with 300-400 inhabitants. Many of the 60 children enrolled in school do not attend school due to poor school conditions and the long walk to the old school up and down the steep hill. There are 2 teachers assigned by the Ministry of Education that teach 1-6 grade and a preschool teacher from the community itself. In the past few years the preschool population has been growing, and this new generation of children looks to education as a opportunity to a brighter future.
There is an available piece of land that the community has designated for the future school. Non-profit organization, Seeds of Learning, is building two classrooms for the elementary school and an additional classroom for the preschool students. The community has endured many hardships as a result of Hurricane Mitch. Despite their lack of water, lack of access to outside resources, and relocation they have been able to unite and work collaboratively to rebuild their community. Community members have been requesting support to help build the school and have shown a great commitment to helping to give what they can to make this a reality.
From February 26 - March 6, 2011 Power to the People installed a 900W photovoltaic system on a new elementary school that Seeds of Learning built in Agua Fria. The PV modules for this project we donated by the SunPower Foundation. The PV system brings lights and AC power to the school and also includes a battery charging station, allowing community members to charge car or deep cycle batteries at the school and take them home to have lights and power in their houses.
Thank you for your interest and support!
Construction site for Seeds of Learning school
Boys in Agua Fria
Volunteers installing racking system
Volunteers enjoying waterfall after solar installation
SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS FOR THIS PROJECT:
VOLUNTEER QUOTES
"The most rewarding moment (among many moments) was when I was able to take a break from the solar installation work, sit in a classroom full of children, and teach them origami. They were so hungry to learn, so eager to hear me say, "bueno!" to each of them as I confirmed their origami creation was beautiful. It was at that moment I knew what we were doing here was more than just solar, we were bonding with a community, sharing our cultures and world, and that is deeply significant."."
Jason Durie from San Jose, CA
"If you have a sense of adventure;
If you love to travel and meet other cultures;
If you desire to help those less fortunate;
If you believe that solar power is our future;
If you have a little time and money to spare;
Then, how could you NOT do this?"
Scott "Simón" Harris from Santa Cruz, CA
"The trip to Agua Fria was incredible! From being welcomed by the enthusiastic local community to meeting other interesting, passionate voluntourists, the people I met on this excursion will never be forgotten. There were feelings of good will on so many levels, and oh yah, plenty of fun was had climbing volcanoes, swinging on vines in cloud forests and teaching smiling hordes of kids about the power of the sun. Amazing!"
Dan Dumovich from San Francisco, CA
PHOTOS OF AGUA FRIA
Agua Fria Elementary School
Power to the People volunteer
Volunteer making an art project with kids
Drilling a hole to hold conduit tube in place
Brother and sister from Agua Fria
Drilling holes to mount the inverter