Once again the RS 499 Sustainable Community Development class, along with Jason Selwitz (MSRS alumnus 2007 now working with Green Empowerment) and I took a group of students to Nicaragua for a ten day immersion class to gain first-hand experience with the implementation of sustainable community projects related to renewable energies in a developing country. In keeping with Cal Poly Pomona's "learn by doing" approach, students were fully involved in the implementation of the community projects.
The immersion class is part of the commitment of the Lyle Center to promote and demonstrate sustainable living. Students not only learned the ins and outs of project implementation but also shared time with individuals who are in need of technology because the infrastructure of the country isn't available to them.
Starting out in Bramadero
We spent four days in Bramadero, a small rural community of about 30 homes, located about 90 kilometers Northwest of Managua, Nicaragua's capital city. Until last year, Bramadero was a community without running potable water or electricity. With the help of Asofenix, a local NGO (non-governmental organziation), Bramadero was able to get a well installed that runs on solar energy which now provides water to one faucet per household.
This year, Jason and I, along with all the students and community members, worked side-by-side to accomplish a variety of projects for the community of Bromadero. We built four more efficient wood burning stoves, a bio-digester as a demonstration for the community, started a nursery of 400 forest trees and provided workshops for children on oral hygiene and basic hand-washing techniques.
The more efficient stoves still use wood as the energy source but use it more efficiently. Heat is retained inside the sotve for a longer period of time, thus reducing the amount of wood that is burned. The improved stoves have chimneys that provide an outlet for the smoke to the outside of the house, which is not common in the current stoves being used in Bramadero. The stoves were built with a mixture of sand, horse manure and clay. The materials were mixed and moistened, then compressed into a rectangular mold; the desired holes were dug out and once they dried, a chimney stack was installed.
The hike to Orozco
We then visited the community of Orozco, where we installed three photovoltaic systems which now provide electricity to homes. To get to Orozco, the group had to hike for 1.5 hours in rugged terrain with a steep slope. Once on top of the mountain, the group was given a solar 101 lecture by Jaime Munoz, Asofenix's director, and then broke up into groups to do the installations. The projects included installation of the solar panels on the roof and all necessary wiring to charge the controller, battery and light bulbs. The installations were completed in record time; the groups were given five hours to do the work and finished in four - very impressive for students without previous solar installation knowledge. For the homeowners, this was the first time they had electricity in their houses. After we finished, each group was treated to a delicious lunch provided by the homeowner. The group in which I participated got a delicious piece of homegrown chicken and a glass of passion fruit drink.
Other activities included visits to a micro-hydro plant which provides basic electricity to 20 homes (including a coffee de-pulper installed by last year's Cal Poly group) in the community of Malacatoya.
Not all was work. Relaxing activities included a community party in Bramadero, swimming in a tropical forest waterfall, visiting the Masaya volcano, shopping for souvenirs in the Masaya craft market, and attending a concert by Carlos Mejio Godoy, credited with writing the Nicaraguan folklore songbook.
This tour class has been a very fulfilling experience in my life. Being able to start and finish a project that changes people's lives is a great feeling. I cannot help but to wonder why in the US, where all is possible, there are not more homes using renewable energy. These forms of energy have been around for quite a while, and mostly what we have done is to talk about it, whereas in places where things do not come easy, individuals with so little are using renewable energy. I hope that our work will serve as an example to other communities in Nicaragua and other developing nations to start looking at renewable energy as a way to stop environmental pollution while at the same time improve individuals' well being.
Biodigester
Students install solar panels
Building a more efficient wood burning stove
Teaching about basic hygiene
