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Funding
to Date:
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$5,938 (%)
As of Feb 13 02:57 2012
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Theme:
Environment
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Sponsor: Center for Global Engagement, Northwestern Univ
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Project duration: 2 Years
Project's area of focus: Solar energy for low-income communities
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Santo Domingo and Santa Librada are located in Chagres National Park, Panama. The communities do not have access to electricity because of their isolation. Our group has worked with them to install photovoltaic systems which light community buildings and family homes, power a school computer, protect livestock, and power a school refrigerator. We provide technical expertise, training and funding assistance. These projects benefit the communities’ health, economy and environment.
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We work in rural villages of Panama to provide solar electricity for families. Our project focuses on aid that is sustainable: we teach the community members about modern electricity practices and provide them with support to last for a lifetime. |
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By using solar energy instead of kerosene lamps, families can save money, protect their health by improving indoor air quality, continue craftwork and studying after dark, reduce carbon emissions, and use solar-energy expertise as an economic asset. |
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Solar energy will change these kids’ lives. Fresh opportunities, from the new school computer to lights which enable studying after dark, will give them a better chance in the educational system.
- Bethany Summersgill, Project lead
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Sumeeth Jonathan,
Team Member
48 Gordons Corner Road
Manalapan, NJ 07726
United States
732-682-5088
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Harold Kung, Dept of Chemical & Bio. Engineering 2145 Sheridan Road
EvanstonIL60201
United States
732-682-5088
Organization's Homepage
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Northwestern University's chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World (ESW-NU) is a student engineering group dedicated to helping the global community to develop in an environmentally sustainable way. Our mission is to help international communities improve their quality of life by providing technical and financial assistance in projects which benefit the communities' long-term environmental, economic, and social health.
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ESW-NU is working on two projects in Panama. One involves providing communities in Chagres National Park with solar energy and the training to build and maintain photovoltaic systems. The other project deals with wastewater treatment in the city of Portobelo, Panama. ESW-NU is also collaborating with the organizations Green Empowerment and Asofenix to work on a biogas digester project in rural Nicaragua.
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Karl Nigorizawa and Richard Zhang,
Panama Solar Project Managers
Founded in 2005
Employees: 0
Volunteers: 16
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Other funding sources: Donation from the Dean of Northwestern's McCormick school of engineering, Dow Chemical, EPA P3 grant, Northwestern Murphy Grant
Religious Affiliation: None
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Bethany traveled to Panama in December 2007 to implement solar energy-related projects and scope out possible future projects. She led work in community development and communication. She became project manager in 2008, and is currently working to streamline organizational structure, determine future goals, coordinate teamwork, expand membership, and gain further sponsor support.
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Christopher began working on the Chagres project in Fall 2007 and served as translator for the trip in December 2007. He is currently serving as International Projects Chair and acts as the primary liason between contacts in Panama and the student group. In addition to his major of electrical engineering, Christopher enjoys international politics and studying foreign languages.
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Kari became involved in this project when she took a 2-quarter senior design course where her team designed the house electrification systems. She is traveling to Panama during August 2008 to begin the installation process, and can't wait to see the results of her team's hard work. Kari loves living abroad and experiencing other cultures, and she hopes to continue working with green technologie
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