Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians partners with SonLight Power to Deepen Impact in Costa Rica
A SonLight Power team will be headed to Costa Rica next week on an exciting new project with the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians, installing rooftop solar panels on a school located deep in the rainforest and far off the grid.
The school, located in a village of the Cabécar Indians, is about 40 miles east of the capital of San Jose in the Río Pacuare Forest Preserve. The journey to this remote destination is challenging and includes three modes of transportation – truck, foot and canoe. The Cabécar are the largest indigenous group in Costa Rica and are considered to be the most isolated – a key reason the Cherokee are working with SonLight Power on this project through their non-profit group, the Cherokee Preservation Foundation.
The Foundation was established in 2005 to provide funding to promote cultural awareness, diversity and environmental sustainability. The Costa Rica eco-study program is a key element of that curriculum, which includes study of Cherokee history and its language and also that of other tribes. And the program is popular; students compete for a spot on the team.
Last week, a SonLight Power contingent of Allen Rainey (Founder & Director of Programs), Kevin Sasson (Executive Director) and Sam Garber (Solar-certified engineer) travelled to Cherokee, North Carolina where they conducted a solar workshop for the nine high school students and five chaperones who will travel with us on the mission trip. The 750-watts that we will install at the school will allow for lighting, multi-media educational tools and refrigeration. The $11,000 project, funded by a Foundation grant, includes a direct current refrigerator.
“This is an exciting project with a very enthusiastic group of kids who, even at this young age, are going to make a difference,” SonLight Power Executive Director Kevin Sasson said, noting this is the first time SonLight Power has worked with a Native American tribe on a project.
While this is SonLight Power's first project in Costa Rica, Kevin and Allen hope it won't be the last. To maximize the trip, we'll be meeting with several other missionary groups in San Jose to introduce them to SonLight Power and seek other project opportunities.
It is thanks to your generous support that we continue to grow and spread our ministry of power – the power of light and of Jesus. Please include us in your prayers for a successful mission and stay tuned: We'll report on the mission outcome in a later edition of the Beacon.
For more photos from our solar training workshop in Cherokee, visit the album posted on our Facebook page.
For more information and on-site photos of this and other SonLight Power mission trips, visit and 'Like' the SonLight Power fans page on Facebook
Does your family, church, or workplace want to join or sponsor a SonLight Power mission trip? Connect with us at +1 or e-mail [email protected].
