Solar Project
San Jose de Cusmapa is a remote village in the mountains of northern Nicaragua, below the Honduran border and 250 km from Managua, the nation’s capital. Although the geography is stunning, this is one of the poorest regions of Nicaragua, with more than 80% of its 7,000 individuals living below the poverty line. The high altitude, arid climate, and poor soil quality leave families in Cusmapa with few alternatives for income generation. Paramount among these problems is the poor infrastructure of Cusmapa: the electricity grid that climbs to the village only works occasionally, interrupting essential services and internet connectivity. During the rainy season, when power lines get knock down by trees, blackouts can last for many weeks.
This project will create a reliable source of electricity that can ensure education programs run by Fabretto continue without interruptions and internet access is readily available to students and other members of the community. The steady source of electricity will also allow Fabretto’s main office in Managua to remain connected to our center in Cusmapa and to protect our equipments from voltage fluctuations. In addition, the solar panels will power a new internet café managed by Fabretto, easing communication between community members and relatives in neighboring countries. Finally, the project will be showcased as a national example of public-private partnership on solar energy to close the digital divide and bring the benefits of technology to underserved communities.
