Sustainable Community Development - Renewable Energy for Rural Villages

Participate in hands-on learning in a small Nicaraguan village, Sabana Grande, Madriz, which has taken up the challenge of becoming a solar culture community with the help of Grupo Fenix. Grupo Fenix recently won the UN based SEED Award for Entrepreneurship in Sustainable Development. The SEED Award is an annual international competition, designed to support locally-led, innovative, entrepreneurial partnerships in developing countries, which have the potential to make real improvements in poverty eradication and environmental sustainability.

Come join us in installing an off-grid solar electric system on the community's solar center, health center, or a rural home. Build your own solar battery charger or LED headlamp. Live with families in Sabana Grande who can show you the benefits of and obstacles to using solar energy in their community. Start your day (or afternoon) with solar-roasted coffee from the community's many solar cookers. The Solar Women of Totogalpa* will show you their Solar Center and solar restaurant which they built themselves out of adobe.

*Read an article about the Solar Women of Totogalpa in Home Power magazine!

*See a video on the Solar Women on the Oprah Winfrey Network!

The systems you build will strengthen the community's ability to develop sustainable businesses within the community. Solar technicians from Sabana Grande are instructors in the course, and community members will give optional classes on medicinal herbs and solar cooking. Part of the tuition goes towards solar ovens and solar PV systems for the community. The workshop price includes food, lodging, and in-country transportation.

Participants must arrive at the Managua Airport on November 2, 2012, and plan to fly out on November 12, 2012.

SEI recommends purchasing travel insurance with your airline tickets for these international workshops, in the unlikely event that low enrollment or other unforeseen factors result in cancellation.

Topics Include
•    The Design & Installation of a solar-electric system
•    Building solar ovens with a women's cooperative
•    Tour of a methane biodigestor
•    Constructing solar battery chargers
•    Medicinal Plants
•    Social & Cultural Issues of Working in the Developing World

For information on SEI's Solar Professionals Certificate Program please click here.  For information on SEI's workshop and training program policies please click here.