Daphne's Solar Power Project in Peru
Daphne Cronin is raising money for Engineers Without Borders UK
Story
Hello friends!
Follow this page for updates on the project and my charity cycle across Scotland!
DON’T FORGET to click the GiftAid button so Engineers Without Borders UK can claim it back and get an extra 25%!!
My story:
I'm honoured to have been selected by Engineers Without Borders UK to work for the Light Up the World social enterprise to improve their solar power systems in Peru. Any donation helps us do this!
Who is Engineers Without Borders UK?
This organisation partners with organisations and communities around the world to increase access to engineering in water and sanitation, clean energy and built environments. Over the past five years through their international work they have contributed a staggering 160,000 hours to projects, supporting the delivery of engineering infrastructure and the research and development of sustainable technologies. Help them continue to deliver their incredible work by supporting me and Engineers Without Borders UK’s local project partner Light Up The World (LUTW) in Peru.
What is LUTW's mission?
Light Up The World (LUTW) is a non-profit organisation focused on providing sustainable energy and lighting to communities as a catalyst for sustainable development. Working in some of the most remote and underserved areas in the world, LUTW installs solar photovoltaic systems and provides solar training to build the local technical support necessary for a sustainable transition away from unhealthy fuels and disposable batteries for energy and light.
What will I be doing?
Myself and another engineer will be spending 2 months with LUTW to:
- Make the solar panels affordable for rural families and preventing lightning damage
- Conducting a survey to evaluate how the Pay As You Go technology is being received
- A social enterprise operations evaluation
Why does it matter?
Energy poverty is the source of a plethora of socio-economic inequalities worldwide. Almost 4 million people in Peru lack access to electricity.
Currently homes burn kerosene and candles to light up there home. This not only has detrimental impacts on health but is also dangerous and expensive.
For some families using a single candle to light up their homes is 90 times more expensive than what we pay for electric lighting.
Empowering children and women
LUTW’s mission means so much to me is because it empowers woman and children in a direct and tangible way. By freeing up the valuable time spent on fuel collection, they have the opportunity to invest in generating an income and education. This is especially important for young girls who beyond the hours dictated by the sun can spend more time learning to achieve a higher education status and break the poverty cycle.
Massive impact on health and the environment
Not only are kerosene and candles expensive alternatives but they also cause diseases like pneumonia, lung cancer, heart disease and severe burns and poisoning. It also disproportionally affects woman and children. In 2012, more than 60% of all premature deaths from household air pollution were among women and children. So this carbon reducing solution helps not only the environment but avoids these serious health impacts.
True Sustainability and Durability
They train locals into solar engineers so the solar panels are repaired and maintained by the community itself. They also have adopted a PAYGO model where the families contribute a small amount each month to eventually own the solar system. One of the main reasons for NGO work failure is that the community wasn’t completely involved financially therefore felt no responsibility towards the system. Here a sense of ownership is fostered enabling them to commit them long term to maintain the work.
To fundraise for this I will be doing a 3 day long charity cycle around Scotland in May and posting pictures !!
Also as an incentive to donate, everyone who donate over £20 will get a personalised photo album of the work we do!
====> Now whats left for you to do is DONATE and DON’T FORGET to click the GiftAid button so Engineers Without Borders UK can claim it back and get an extra 25%!!
Thank you for all your support!!
You da best