We are a diverse group of 15 SAIT Electrical Engineering Technology (EET) students with a common interest – to increase our knowledge and apply our skills to improve the lives of others and contribute to global citizenship. To this end, we are volunteering with the Alberta-based, non-profit foundation - Light Up the World (LUTW) to install a solar power system in a remote area in Peru. We anticipate that our efforts will bring meaningful and lasting change to a community currently without access to electricity and modern amenities.
Over the course of ten days from mid to late May 2024, we will travel to Peru, receive some training, and begin adjusting to the high-altitude region in the Andes mountains. Then we will travel to camp in an Indigenous community in the Huancavelica region of Peru. This is an impoverished region and our goal is to install an off-grid Photo Voltaic (PV) system that will provide electricity to a local school that serves students, aged 6 to 13. It is our expectation that access to electricity, efficient lighting, and the internet will significantly increase educational opportunities as well as improve quality of life for the whole community. Despite the expected challenges that we will face, we are very excited to be involved in this experiential-learning project as it will allow us to be immersed in Andean culture and to interact with the Indigenous community while giving us the opportunity to learn by undertaking a complete off-grid PV installation project from start to finish.
After successful completion of the PV installation project, we would like to add a few days to our trip to experience and learn more of Peru, before returning to Calgary. However, by this time our available funding and personal finances will be exhausted. We are humbly requesting your assistance in this regard, and your donations will support our desire to spend three extra days in Peru to sight-see, after our humanitarian work. We thank you very much for your support. We appreciate any donations! For donors that provide $1000 or more, we will make special posts on KVA's social media thanking you for your support!
Donations made are tax deductible – SAIT will provide official receipts to donors when funds are received.