SANTA MARIA, ISLA ZAPATERA, NICARAGUA
SOLAR SCHOOL AND CAFETERIA

"Dear friends, I am the teacher from Santa Maria Zapatera, in this moment I am in the school, we have internet it is increible but true, thank you for to be good people, receive our greeting, good luck with you, god bless you."
- Lazaro Garcia,

This email was sent from the teacher at the Santa Maria school in July 2011 after the solar installation was complete from the new computers at the school.

PROJECT DATES: JULY 16 - 24, 2011

The community of Santa Maria is one of a handful of communities located on the island of Zapatera in the middle of Lake Nicaragua. Isla Zapatera is the "Cinderella" of Lake Nicaragua with its step-sister island "Ometepe" getting all of the attention. Truly a gem, Isla Zapatera is a large island covered in lush green trees, so many that you cannot see the houses from above.

The people living on Isla Zapatera have been severely neglected for years due to the isolation of the island and their level of poverty. There are no ferries that run to the island, no electricial lines, no phone lines, no secondary schools, and almost almost no health care services. On our recent trip to the island we were surprised to see how friendly and welcoming the community members were and how thankful they were for the services that Children's Wellness Fund, a US non-profit that provides ongoing support to the island, has given to them so far. Due to this generous non-profit organization, the kids from the island that graduate from 6th grade can continue to study in the nearby city of Granada on the main land. CWF takes the kids by boat to Granada, gives them school supplies, food and a place to stay in the city.

Back on the island, the quality of education is poor and the new school (built by CWF) in Santa Maria is without electricity. After seeing that the kids eat lunch on the floor, CWF also built the community a small cafeteria near the school and is providing healthy food to the kids so they are not malnurished and can focus on learning while in school.

In July 2011, Power to the People volunteers and staff worked together with local volunteers from Santa Maria and solar company Suni Solar to install a solar electric system on the Santa Maria elementary school. The 900W PV system has brought lights and AC power to both the school and the cafeteria. The volunteers also installed a battery charging station so that people from the community can charge a car or deep-cycle battery at the school and take it home with them to have lights and power in their houses.

After the installation was successfully completed, the community threw a "fiesta de despedida" for the volunteers. For the rest of their days in Nicaragua, the US volunteers hiked around the top of Volcano Mombacho, swam (and went surfing) in the Pacific Ocean and learned more about Nicaraguan food, music and culture.

To see more photos of the trip CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to watch an inspiring video of a volunteer's experience and senior project at the Shining Mountain Waldorf School in Boulder, Colorado.

PV modules resting on Santa Maria school

Power to the People volunteers

Santa Maria community volunteer

Isla Zapatera boat

Volunteers installing racking

SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS OF THIS PROJECT: