Going Solar: What You Probably Didn’t Know
Solar energy- you’ve heard about it. You may have even been stopped by an environmentalist saying you should support it. If you’re really cool, maybe your own house uses it. But how much do you really know about solar energy? Plants make the process of turning light into energy look easy, but producing a solar cell is far from simple. Here’s what you need to know about solar energy. The beginning: A french physicist, Antoine-César Becquerel, first observed the effects of solar power while experimenting with an electrode in an electrolyte solution. As light graced through...
Read MoreUPDATE: Las Palmas Latrine Project
Hey Gang! Our team made a quick visit to Las Palmas recently to get updates on the latrine project, and see how it wrapped up. We were so glad to find that all of the latrines were completed! The families in the village now have completed sanitation systems: There are lots of pictures on our facebook page, too!
Read MoreIngredients for Life: Soil and Water
The agricultural sector in Nicaragua carries a lot of weight- not only is agricultural products one of Nicaragua’s major sources of income, but it’s also a vital source of nutrition for members of rural communities. The success of a crop year can make –or break- a community that has no other source of income and no other way to eat. In 2005, despite having such a small landmass, Nicaragua was the 16th largest coffee producer in the world. In a single year the country produced 85,130 tons of coffee, a quantity that would sell for $69,599,000 (in international currency) in international...
Read MoreBetween Trash Mountains
In our previous post, Freyja took us on an adventure through Nicaragua, opening a window to the walled trash-city of La Chureca. Some may know La Chureca as the pile of trash Anthony Bourdain visited with his show, No Reservations. A single visit to the dumb had Anthony almost to tears. Getting to know the landfill’s school shows that all kids have the same imagination and desire to learn, even those with virtually no opportunities on their horizon. Freyja’s teen travel group saw that compared to La Chureca, many impoverished communities look like “the good life”: “Beyond the...
Read MoreNotes from McKenna [Part One: Friendship]
McKenna Asakawa went on an Al Campo service trip to Nicaragua in June of 2010. According to McKenna, her trip with Al Campo changed her outlook on life, and helped define her future professional goals. "The relationships I was able to create during my trip have been pivotal in my philosophy toward international relations and plain human interaction. My trip made me realize that people are people, regardless of nationality, language, belief-system, or background."
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