Lighting Up Hope and Communities ^Featured

Original project description

Lighting up Hope and Communities aims to become a model for the creation of a financially self-sustaining business selling renewable energy products. Mujeres Solares de Totogalpa is a motivated group of women who are determined to improve the quality of life for themselves and their families in rural North West Nicaragua.
Working in partnership with a university research centre, an NGO and experts on solar technology, they are aiming to set up a co-operative enterprise, Lighting Up Hope and Communities, producing photovoltaic panels from recycled solar cells, solar cookers and dryers, and solar cooked/ dried food products and medicinal plants. These products will be made at and sold from a new Solar Center in the community.

• The partnership expects the production centres to become completely self-sufficient, and expand to support other community development projects within 5 years. It also aims to support local, regional and national outreach and education efforts to bring this renewable energy development model to other communities.

Current project updates

No update available.

Growth plans description

• provide infrastructure and assistance for the production of new energy technologies, through an ongoing exchange with universities, scientists, sociologists as well as national and international volunteer professionals.
• work with rural communities as equal partners, to develop alternative energy strategies in a manner that respects the local needs and circumstances.
• launch a non-profit cooperative in order to produce and sell solar products, using local community members with expertise in construction of solar panels, cookers and dryers and in preparing solar cooked/dried food products and medicinal plants.
• offering educational courses in solar technology to the community and conduct formal training to increase the number of skilled technicians available to meet increased demand.

Current Needs

To ensure the long-term future of this innovative, locally-led partnership for sustainable development, additional contacts, financing opportunities and communication and marketing networks are needed, and in particular:
• legal and accounting – access to expert Nicaraguan legal assistance
• capacity development - equip local programme staff and the Mujeres Solares de Totogalpa with
appropriate skills (business planning and technical) relevant to the local environment
• funding – facilitate access to financing for key projects and initiatives and support with appropriate accounting practices

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