Our relationship with USI began in 2013, when we collaborated with them to install solar panels in the School of Art and the San Ramón Community Center. These projects were so successful that we decided to continue our collaboration, and since then we have installed five more solar panel systems in five rural schools: Mina Verde #2,  San Antonio de Upa, San Jose, Verapaz, and Santa Ana. These communities, which do not have electricity, now have lights at night for adult education classes and community meetings. They also have a source of income for the school through the charging of cell phones. The Parent Teacher Association administers these funds to maintain the solar panels and meet the needs of the school.

Here is an amazing video from the Santa Ana installation. Students from Appalachian State took time on their cultural immersion ecotour to collaborate with the installation of this system.

We hope to continue our collaboration with USI for years to come. To learn more about the work that USI does, you can visit their website by clicking here.