How You Can Help
INTERNATIONAL
Travel to Nicaragua With Us
Join us in Nicaragua to help install an off-grid solar system on a home,
school, health clinic or farm as part of our “voluntourism” program. Check
out our website for upcoming trip dates and prices. For information
about private trips, please contact Maura McKnight at mmcknight@
gridalternatives.org or (510) 731-1321.
Corporate Sponsorships
Show your company’s support for clean energy and poverty alleviation by
sponsoring a project, sending employees on a trip with us, or making an
in-kind donation. For more information about sponsorship opportunities,
please contact Maura McKnight at [email protected] or
(510) 731-1321.
Make a Donation
To make a donation to our International Program, please visit our
website, click on Donate Now, and select International from the regional
dropdown menu, or mail a check to GRID Alternatives, 1171 Ocean Ave
Suite 200 Oakland, CA 94608 and write International in the memo field.
Community Events
Attend a local event to learn more about our program and meet other
volunteers. Check out the events section of our Facebook page
(www.facebook.com/gridalternatives) for upcoming events.
1171 Ocean Avenue, Suite 200, Oakland, CA 94608
Phone: (510) 731-1310
gridalternatives.org
GRID Alternatives’ vision is a successful transition to clean, renewable energy that includes everyone. Our mission is
to make renewable energy technology and job training accessible to underserved communities. We bring together
community partners, volunteers and job trainees to implement solar power and energy efficiency for low-income families,
providing energy cost savings, valuable hands-on experience, and a source of clean, local energy that benefits us all.
Take a Trip that Will
Light Up a Community
and Change Your Life!
PROGRAM
INTERNATIONAL
Travel With Us to Nicaragua
GRID Alternatives’ International Program brings solar power
to community buildings, small farmers and homes in rural Nicaragua.
Through our “voluntourism” model, we offer a unique week-long
international experience that gives travelers a chance to learn about
solar energy, make a fundamental difference at a grassroots level,
and gain a new perspective about life in another culture.
Nicaragua, located between Honduras and Costa Rica, is the poorest
Latin country in the western hemisphere, with half of its population
living below the poverty line. Much of the poverty is located in rural
areas where the country’s electric grid does not reach. A sunny
climate and the relatively low
energy use of rural people
in Nicaragua makes solar
systems an ideal energy
solution.
PROGRAM
SOLAR ELECTRICITY
Millions of people in Nicaragua live without electricity and
rely on harmful and polluting alternatives like diesel and
gas generators, kerosene lamps, and candles to see at night.
Reliable electricity allows people to access information, stay
healthy, communicate with others, enjoy entertainment,
and live a more comfortable and productive life. Batterybased solar electricity provides clean reliable energy 24
hours a day.
HANDS-ON SOLAR INSTALLATION EXPERIENCE
GRID Alternatives volunteers work alongside community
members to install off-grid solar electric systems. With
guidance from professionals, volunteers can participate in
every step of the installation process from attaching the
racking system, to lifting the solar modules on the roof, to
wiring the system together and teaching the community
the basics about solar energy. The solar systems we install
provide the community with lights and electric power
so they can use technology in schools, electric devices at
health posts, lights and electric appliances at home, and
solar-powered drip irrigation on their farms.
SOLAR LIGHTING PROGRAM
Our Solar Lighting Program helps local women
entrepreneurs in rural villages in Nicaragua
bring affordable high-quality solar lamps to their
communities. The lamps not only replace dangerous
lighting sources like kerosene, but they also charge
cell phones, and selling them provides women with
a source of income to help their families. For more
information about our Solar Lighting Program please
visit www.gridalternatives.org/international.
To learn more about our projects please visit http://www.gridalternatives.org/international
© 2013 James Richard Photography
VISITING BEAUTIFUL
NICARAGUA
Nicaragua offers some of the most
stunning and under-visited places
in Central America. With so many
bustling cities, breathtaking views,
artisan markets, and cultural
activities, it’s not a question of what
to do, but rather how much we can
fit in. Our trips vary due to project
location, but always include a range
of activities in addition to the solar
installation, including:
~~
A multi-day homestay with a local
rural family
~~
A walking tour of a beautiful
colonial-style town
~~
Visits to artisan markets full of
crafts and artwork
~~
Nature hikes, including a hike to a
local waterfall
~~
A visit to one of Nicaragua’s 25
volcanoes
~~
Swimming in natural mineral
baths
~~
A boat tour of the Granada islands
~~
A visit to a coffee farm or cigarmaking factory
~~
A chocolate making class