Solar Energy Workshop in Rural Communities

Why is your program important? Which social issues do you face? And how do you try to solve these issues?

The workshop aims at installing solar systems free of charge for chosen elementary schools or organizations in small remote communities with no access to grid-electricity. Furthermore we also try to educate the local communities (and you as a participant) about Solar energy, and show them how to install, maintain, and build their own solar system!

An important aspect of the project is that we involve the local community in the workshop and provide knowledge and expertise to locals on solar power systems. The locals are the ones managing and running the systems later on, so they’ll have to know how they work. You will help to educate the community about renewable energies and solar systems.

We are also including educational events for kids and adults throughout the workshop – usually we do a visit to our local high schools and show them how to make panels from scratch and teach them about solar energy.

What is your program exactly about? What is the role of the volunteer?

You as a participant in our Solar Power Project will gain an understanding of the basic engineering principles of photo-voltaic power and solar panels. You will receive theory and practical lessons on how solar panels work. We will make panels from scratch and install basic systems. We will also install solar systems on one or two of the places we will donate the solar system to (varying locations throughout the Osa Peninsula).
We ask of our participants to actively take part in the theory and practical lessons, and help us with the installations of the solar system. We also include a visit to the local high school and we ask from our participants to actively help plan the high school visit and teach high school kids about solar energy. We also include locals into our daily practical and theory classes, and we would appreciate that participants help us to teach locals about solar energy.

Surroundings

You'll be living and working mainly in Puerto Jimenez, a small rural town on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. The workshop will take place in communal buildings, such as the Salon Communal, which is a centrally located meeting place. 

With whom will the volunteers be working with?

The volunteers will be working with our instructors, program staff, and also with locals! You'll meet locals that also want to learn about solar energy, and help us teach them how it works!

What do you expect from the volunteers? What can the volunteers expect from you? Do the volunteers have to bring special equipment?

An ideal volunteer on this project has a passion for environmental conservation, renewable energy, and helping communities. As a participant you should be flexible, pro-active, creative, and a team-player! The workshop is held in English for our foreign participants. However, Spanish knowledge is always of advantage since you’ll be speaking with locals throughout the workshop and also communicate with your host family – who may not speak English!

The daily schedule is from around 9am - 4pm, with a lunch break. There will be some days off in the middle and end of the workshop - so that you have the chance to enjoy the Osa Peninsula: go to the beach, go for a surf, go for a horseback ride, or just hang out around town

Volunteers could spend their time in Puerto Jimenez, a small town that has everything to offer for example: beautiful beaches, many hotels & resorts, travel agencies, rental tour companies, supermarkets, a hospital, a pharmacy, various gift shops, bars and restaurants. In addition, organizing your trip can easily be done with the various transportation possibilities like taxis, local and public busses, public boats to Golfito and even a local airport which is able to fly you all the way up to San José. Not to forget the many assortment of activities this town has to offer: sport fishing excursions, hiking, mountain biking, rappelling horse riding. Surrounded by the natural beauty you will be able to see scarlet macaws, crocodiles, monkeys and various colorful birds.