Solar for Peru
A$7,426
of $7,400 targetyrs ago
Successful on 18th May 2016 at 8:41AM.
Wait, Before I say anything just look at this picture. These kids just got light turned on for the first time in their school building.
Amazing. Right??! So these particular kids have solar power now but we can give this to 20 families in the village of Pampa Ccahuana! thats about 100 people - and they will have it for the next 20 years.
You and me! Us! We can do this! Cool.
So why Peru??? What the? I mean, I've heard of Machu Picchu but do they really need any help? Don't they have awesome clothes and cool pan music - what can I add to that?
Well, turns out that there are 10 million people living in Peru who live below the poverty line. Poverty in Peru is deepest among indigenous people living in remote rural areas. Many of these people have no access to any electricity at all. But we can do something about that - right now!
So how did I get involved?
Well, in 2006 I met this guy..
Washington Gibaja Tapia. He grew up beneath Machu Picchu in the Ollantaytambo Mountains. He's great. He cares deeply about providing for the needs of his fellow Peruvians. Over the years some friends and I have been supporting Washington at Christmas time as he takes hot chocolate up into the mountains for the kids. This past year he reached over 2000 kids with small gifts and Hot Chocolate.
He has started to get solar powered lighting systems into the poorest of the rural communities and he has invited us to take part by raising funds for the community of Pampa Ccahuanaho.
Solar Powered Lights will help in this way:
The women in the village currently earn money through the sales of their animals, like lambs and Alpacas and through the production of hand woven products. Families typically grow some crops like potatoes in their chakras, which may be a two or three hour walk away from their homes which the men usually tend to. At these locations, they have estancias, which are basic shelters for them to be protected in as they tend their crops and/or animals. These families’ homes and estancias have no electricity at all. The men often have to walk home in the dark. The current light sources are candles and kerosene which are expensive, dirty, and can cause health and fire hazards. The kids in the village will benefit from the reduced health risks and also from the ability to study in the evenings helping to end the poverty cycle.
Getting the solar systems to the community:
The community is located in Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Andes and sits at 14,000 feet. To get there one walks part of the inca trail and takes 7 - 8 hours with mules. Yes Mules.
Members of the community travel down and with Washingtons team travel back up into the mountains together and install the systems. This takes about 2 to 3 days.
Boom, here's another light going on.
Amazing. Right??! So these particular kids have solar power now but we can give this to 20 families in the village of Pampa Ccahuana! thats about 100 people - and they will have it for the next 20 years.
You and me! Us! We can do this! Cool.
So why Peru??? What the? I mean, I've heard of Machu Picchu but do they really need any help? Don't they have awesome clothes and cool pan music - what can I add to that?
Well, turns out that there are 10 million people living in Peru who live below the poverty line. Poverty in Peru is deepest among indigenous people living in remote rural areas. Many of these people have no access to any electricity at all. But we can do something about that - right now!
So how did I get involved?
Well, in 2006 I met this guy..
Washington Gibaja Tapia. He grew up beneath Machu Picchu in the Ollantaytambo Mountains. He's great. He cares deeply about providing for the needs of his fellow Peruvians. Over the years some friends and I have been supporting Washington at Christmas time as he takes hot chocolate up into the mountains for the kids. This past year he reached over 2000 kids with small gifts and Hot Chocolate.
He has started to get solar powered lighting systems into the poorest of the rural communities and he has invited us to take part by raising funds for the community of Pampa Ccahuanaho.
Solar Powered Lights will help in this way:
The women in the village currently earn money through the sales of their animals, like lambs and Alpacas and through the production of hand woven products. Families typically grow some crops like potatoes in their chakras, which may be a two or three hour walk away from their homes which the men usually tend to. At these locations, they have estancias, which are basic shelters for them to be protected in as they tend their crops and/or animals. These families’ homes and estancias have no electricity at all. The men often have to walk home in the dark. The current light sources are candles and kerosene which are expensive, dirty, and can cause health and fire hazards. The kids in the village will benefit from the reduced health risks and also from the ability to study in the evenings helping to end the poverty cycle.
Getting the solar systems to the community:
The community is located in Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley of the Andes and sits at 14,000 feet. To get there one walks part of the inca trail and takes 7 - 8 hours with mules. Yes Mules.
Members of the community travel down and with Washingtons team travel back up into the mountains together and install the systems. This takes about 2 to 3 days.
Boom, here's another light going on.
How The Funds Will Be Used
Washington speaks about the project from Peru:
20 Homes will benefit:
Typical Family – 4-6 Children
Solar Panel System: 20 Watt Panel, Battery, Controller, Mini Lift, 3 LED Lights (two for inside, one for outside), Adaptors for cellphone charging and radio, all necessary cables, sockets and switches.
Cost $370 each incl Installation
Total Project Cost: $7,400 AUS
Community Members will assist Washingtons team in transporting the systems up the mountains.
Washingtons team consists of:
An Engineer, one assistant and Washington himself.
The Engineer will be Paid $25 AUD dollars for each installation - Total $500 AUD
Washington and the Assistant help the Engineer and document the project with photos and video. They are each paid $250 AUD.
The travel and installation process takes about 4-5 days.
The Solar cells are purchased from Buen Power Peru S.A.C. the life of the solar cells is approx. 20 years.
http://www.buenpower.com
20 Homes will benefit:
Typical Family – 4-6 Children
Solar Panel System: 20 Watt Panel, Battery, Controller, Mini Lift, 3 LED Lights (two for inside, one for outside), Adaptors for cellphone charging and radio, all necessary cables, sockets and switches.
Cost $370 each incl Installation
Total Project Cost: $7,400 AUS
Community Members will assist Washingtons team in transporting the systems up the mountains.
Washingtons team consists of:
An Engineer, one assistant and Washington himself.
The Engineer will be Paid $25 AUD dollars for each installation - Total $500 AUD
Washington and the Assistant help the Engineer and document the project with photos and video. They are each paid $250 AUD.
The travel and installation process takes about 4-5 days.
The Solar cells are purchased from Buen Power Peru S.A.C. the life of the solar cells is approx. 20 years.
http://www.buenpower.com
The Challenges
Washington reports that all the communities that have received the systems so far are happy with their performance. The engineer will also return to check on the systems periodically.
Some issues were reported with dirt and dusk getting into the solar cells which has resulted in teaching the families during the installation process how to clean the cells effectively.
Yay! that's it! Hope you can be involved!
Some issues were reported with dirt and dusk getting into the solar cells which has resulted in teaching the families during the installation process how to clean the cells effectively.
Yay! that's it! Hope you can be involved!
Yeeah!
Our Deepest thanks and gratitude for your support of our project.
0 chosen
Est. delivery is Apr 16
Sweet. Very Sweet indeed.
You get a shout out on my personal fb page. Whaaat? I get a shout out? yes, yes you do. And.. Our deepest thanks!
6 chosen / 34 available
Est. delivery is Apr 16
Solid dude. Solid.
You get a virtual reality high 5 through my fb that is going to slam into your world with the power of gratitude! feel the realness. go ahead. feel it. Our deepest thanks!
12 chosen / 38 available
Est. delivery is Apr 16
Tears. Tears of Joy.
Your name is going to be read out at 14,000 feet in the Andes, and its going to reverberate there for a moment in time. and. that. moment. will. be. beautiful. And.. You get fb love. from me. to you.
5 chosen / 22 available
Est. delivery is Apr 16
Solar for 1 family
Whaa? Did you just do that? Respect. Our deepest thanks. You get, An electronic project report including photos of the transport and installation process. A personal email from Washington in Peru. 3 Handmade Fair Trade Peruvian Friendship Woven Bracelets - 100% Naturally Dyed Wool Made in Peru. Uhuh. I know what you're thinking. You're welcome.
2 chosen
Est. delivery is Jul 16
Wow. That's beyond cool.
Congratulations, we are best friends now. I’m going to take you out for coffee and personally go through the project report with you. We can also talk about life and anything else you need to get off your chest. And.. You get a framed picture from the village taken during the installation process. And.. 3 hand woven Peruvian friendship bracelets made in Peru. Plus a fb shout out and our deepest gratitude.
1 chosen / 3 available
Est. delivery is Jun 16
10 families. T E N
We are seriously getting married now. look what you’ve gone and done. This just got so real you are getting a Poncho! YOU! You are getting a hand woven Made in Peru freakin Poncho. This is insane. I’M freaking out, how are YOU feeling? AND… you get all the other stuff PLUS I’m buying lunch. Go have a cup of tea and settle down. You are amazing.
0 chosen / 2 available
Est. delivery is Jul 16