Blog #71: Green Empowerment

Though our funding for our 2015 Project Grant to Green Empowerment has been completed, we believe the impact of their work in Nicaragua will continue for generations to come.  The AllPeopleBeHappy funding to Green Empowerment came from multiple grants: a Project Grant, a Fellows Program grant for Caitlyn Peake, and a Volunteer Service Award for Kristen Midura.  The work addressed environmental stresses on rural communities in various ways. Native trees were planted, crops were diversified, improved environmental practices were implemented such as live fencing, fodder banks and mixed pastureland of trees and shade tolerant grasses.  In addition to the agricultural improvements, Caitlyn managed projects to bring environmentally friendly technology to rural communities such as improved cook stoves, solar irrigation, solar power for homes and schools, and capturing gray water to irrigate patio gardens.  Finally, Kristen left a well-paying engineering job in Portland, OR to spend 6 months leading service learning groups to these communities to install the new technology.  Though the aggregate effect of these efforts may take years to fully develop, we are confident that the impact made by this amazing group is a great example of providing innovative and sustainable solutions to the root causes of poverty.