35 Years ~ Honoring Ben Linder
Today is the 35th anniversary of my brother Ben’s death. On most years, my wife and I mark the day by taking my mother Elisabeth, who just celebrated her 94th birthday, to a park next to Ben’s old middle school. We sit on a bench that my sister Miriam installed in his memory and gaze…
Read MoreImpact Expansion: Solar Water Pumping in Peru
As the world slowly emerges out of a two-year pandemic, it is clear we all still face urgent political, economic, and environmental challenges. The unsustainable production of oil is causing extreme inflation of gas prices, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine is causing global anxiety of war. Meanwhile, more than 2 billion people lack access…
Read MoreMutual Aid in Myanmar: Solar Power For Emergency Response
In mutual aid systems, people work together to meet the needs of their community. This is different from a charity, which features a one-way relationship between an organization and recipients, often responding only to the effects of inequality but not the root causes. Mutual aid collaborations operate as an alliance between people united against a…
Read MoreWater For People: COVID-19 Relief in Northern Peru
After two years of battling COVID-19, it’s clear the pandemic has revealed we are long past due for a systemic healthcare readjustment. Many places around the world are still in need of basic sanitation and access to clean water, proving just how much work still needs to be done. In a rural region of northern…
Read MoreA Letter of Gratitude
Maria Troche Mejía, president of the Los Andes water committee. As the holidays approach, I am grateful to share a remarkable story with you that demonstrates how your gifts to Green Empowerment are harnessed to achieve lasting results. Authentic partnership is at the heart of our work. With sustaining investments from supporters like you, we…
Read MoreBehind the Scenes: 97% of Projects Still Operating
As Green Empowerment approaches its 25th year of operation, we engaged in a program evaluation project that looked at the long-term operation of community-managed potable water and renewable energy systems in Latin America. The evaluation included 27 community-managed systems, installed between 2009 and 2019 across three countries and six different partner organizations. We were thrilled…
Read MoreThe Road to Renewable Energy in Sabah, Malaysia
“Efforts to accelerate the growth of the country’s green economy, enhancement of energy sustainability and transformation of the water sector should remain at the core of the country’s socio-economic development.” – Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Malaysia Prime Minister We are thrilled to launch the Sabah Renewable Energy Rural Electrification Roadmap (Sabah RE2 Roadmap) with…
Read MoreBuilding Technical Capacity for Micro-Hydro Development in Indonesia
Part of what partnership means to Green Empowerment is being able to share sustainable technology solutions across geographic regions. After seeing our successful collaboration with TONIBUNG in Malaysia, we were honored to have Aliansi Masyarakat Adat Nusantara (AMAN), the Indigenous Peoples Network of Indonesia, invite us to help build and strengthen their renewable energy program…
Read MoreLocal Perspectives Lead to Long Term Success
In my last article, I laid out the reasons why the most obvious water source is often not the one that works. So how can we identify the best water source? At Green Empowerment we use a dual approach, weighing technical considerations and simultaneously working closely with the community to address social and political factors.…
Read MoreWhere’s the Water Source? Why the Obvious Solution Isn’t Always the One That Works
Getting safe, drinkable water to rural communities is more challenging than you think. In a previous article, I debunked the myths that boiling water was a safe solution and argued that household filters are not a strong enough replacement. Now, let’s discuss one of the major challenges for designing an effective system that delivers piped…
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