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The Center for Service & Learning India Trip 2007
New! Check out a video done by IBN, the Indian affiliate of CNN on the project: http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/30713/students-play-srk-village-lights-up.html READ MORE: visit the News page to read more articles written about the 2007 project In 2007, the program returned to India to work in Domi, a village of Melghat, in a small group of villages south and west of Delhi. The group, working with local NGO’s Maitri (visit: http://maitripune.org/php-files/news.php for more info) and Melghat Mitra, installed in–home solar lighting systems for approximately 63 homes. This project will allow families of the village Domi to decrease their dependence on wood and kerosene, two costly, environmentally damaging, and health compromising energy sources. The plan, developed by Melghat Mitra, had the community to take financial responsibility for this project. A community needs assessment by Melghat Mitra identified that Domi liked the idea of these of these lighting systems in the village. Each family will provide a portion of the financial burden to keep them invested and committed to the sustainability of these systems. We did not want to displace workers or resources that were already in place, but to work together with the villagers to build these systems and educate the villagers on their care. CC students taught the villagers how to install and maintain these systems. The students and staff participating in this service project completed a semester long orientation program. The group met on average once a week for the entire first semester. Some of the meetings were used for logistical affairs including planning and visas. Other meetings consisted of educational, cultural, social, and geographical topics as well as history and practices of the region. In addition the group went through training on solar power and the lighting systems. The group learned how to put the systems together, to troubleshoot problems, and direct the maintenance of the systems. Once trained the group members were responsible for teaching the villagers this same information. |