Electricity
Nos Vemos, Nicaragua!
[By: Claudia Aber, Stanford University student and GE/AsoFénix summer intern in Nicaragua]10 weeks after arriving in Nicaragua, August 25th was my last day working with Green Empowerment and AsoFénix. I spent this day reflecting on the work done, friends made, and opportunities had during my time here. This summer flew by, and I will cherish…
Read MoreQ&A with Patrick Pawletko, Former GE Fellow in Myanmar
[Conducted by Eleanor Burke. Questions and responses edited for brevity and coherent continuity.]Patrick graduated from Purdue University in 2014 with a degree in Civil Engineering. While studying there, he participated in a team collaboration to develop a locally sourced, locally fabricated micro-hydropower facility in the rural community of Bangang, Cameroon, where he gained his early…
Read MoreGreetings from Nicaragua!
By: Claudia Aber, Stanford University student and GE Intern in NicaraguaI arrived in Nicaragua four weeks ago to work with Asofénix and Green Empowerment, two sustainable development organizations that work together on a broad range of projects in rural communities. Before leaving Stanford University in California, I had my favorite meal, pizza with a chocolate…
Read MoreGreen Empowerment Project Wins 2016 National Energy Globe Award for Ecuador!
The Growing Esmeraldas with Renewable Energy project (known as Creciendo Esmeraldas con Energía Renovable, or “CRECER”) has won the 2016 National Energy Globe Award for Ecuador! The CRECER project was created to improve the lives and livelihoods of rural cacao-farming families in Ecuador’s Esmeraldas Province through the holistic implementation of renewable energy technologies, eco-agricultural training…
Read MoreExpanding Rural Energy Access in Nicaragua through Solar Panel Programs
1.3 million people in Nicaragua lack access to electricity, mostly those living in rural areas. This kind of energy poverty can have serious effects on many aspects of life, from health to economic productivity. While some of the larger towns in remote rural areas are served by diesel mini-grids installed by the government-operated utility company,…
Read MoreBig Wins for Indigenous Communities in Malaysian Borneo!
Indigenous Land Rights and Mega Dams in SarawakIn Sarawak, the state where Green Empowerment implemented our very first project in Malaysian Borneo, the indigenous community members along the Baram River were successful in re-gaining the rights to their land. Prior to this victory, the Native Customary Rights (NCR) land claims of over 10,000 Baram residents…
Read MoreNicaragua Takeover: The Technology
GE installs a number of different technologies through our Boaco program. My personal favorites are our residential solar installations.These systems have immediate effects for the recipient families, as they bring newfound light into people’s lives as soon as they’re installed. In this photo, I’m finishing a solar installation on the roof of my homestay’s house.The…
Read MoreWelcome to our Nicaragua Takeover Week
Out in the hills of rural Nicaragua, you’ll find the communities of El Bálsamo, El Jazmín, and El Jocote. These are the sites where I’ve been working for the last 6 months, installing clean energy and water systems in remote areas of the country. In my short time here, I have had the opportunity to work…
Read More