The Power of Change: Guatemala

In 2008, volunteer linemen from the Georgia cooperatives went to the remote mountain region of Ixcan in Guatemala. Ixcan’s infrastructure had been devastated by the decades-long civil war that ravaged the country. When the war ended the local municipality established the Municipal Company for Rural Electrification, or EMRE as it is known in Spanish, to begin the process of restoring power to the region. EMRE made great progress over the years. However, they lacked the resources to fully electrify the villages in its service area. A call for help went out. NRECA International Foundation and the Georgia cooperatives answered the call, and helped bring reliable electrical power to more villages in Ixcan. One year later, NRECA and the Georgia volunteers returned to Ixcan.

Learn more about work in Guatemala.

2010 NRECA Annual Meeting: NRECA International Presentation on Haiti

NRECA International's Myk Manon provides a poignant description of NRECA's involvement in Haiti following the earthquake.

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The Georgia Volunteers in Action: Ixcan, Guatemala

In 2008 Georgia electric cooperatives partnered with the NRECA International Foundation to send volunteers to Ixcan, Guatemala. Their goals were to connect isolated communities to the national grid, as well as to improve the safety and reliability of electricity for those already with service. After many hours of hard work, over 1,300 residents of Ixcan are now benefitting from the dedication of the Georgia volunteers.

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An Interview with Former Sudanese Refugee, Abraham Awolich

One of Sudan's many refugees, Abraham Awolich was separated from his family at age 8 and spent more than a dozen years in East African refugee camps. He arrived in the United States in 2001 at age 21, and has since completed his college degree, pursued graduate studies and is working to bring relief to those in his native land.

"You have two options in a difficult situation," Awolich said. "You can make things better or worse. I chose to make them better."

Learn more about work in Sudan.

Volunteers in Action – Yei, Southern Sudan

Over the course of three years, 15 U.S. co-op linemen traveled to Yei to continue the project of electrification in Yei, Sudan. Since May of 2008, the Yei Electricity Cooperatives has been providing electricity to over 17,500 residents and they continue to expand service.

The town’s crime rates have plummeted at night and business development is soaring. This video captures the powerful inspiration of the volunteers and the people of Sudan who worked together to create a better future for Yei.

Learn more about work in Sudan.

Giving the Gift of Light – U.S. volunteers

Every year, NRECA International Foundation sends U.S. co-op volunteers overseas to help bring power –and hope- to thousands of people in remote villages. Many times, we only hear of what a great job our volunteers did, but we don’t hear what they felt and brought back with them … a life changing experience. In their own words, hear how gratifying it is for them to know they are making a real impact in the lives of many. The NRECA volunteers are helping electrify the world, one village at a time, and we thank them for it!

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Yungas Electrification Project Video

NRECA International and the Government of Bolivia celebrated the completion of Phase I of the USAID-funded Rural Electrification for the Alternative Development of the Yungas (READY) project, which seeks to provide key inputs and services, such as electricity and roads, to rural agricultural communities that renounce cultivation of illicit coca.

Learn more about work in Bolivia.

Electricity: The Cornerstone of Development -- Guatemala Stories

The Food for Progress Act (FFP), a program of the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides U.S. surplus agriculture commodities to developing countries and emerging democracies committed to introducing and expanding free enterprise in the agricultural sector. In 1999, USDA/FAS awarded NRECA International the first of several surplus agriculture commodity grants under its FFP program. Bringing power to the people through the monetization of surplus commodities has proved to be an effective approach. In total, the USDA/FAS funds have helped NRECA International implement projects to benefit close to 1.4 million people in rural communities in Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala and Philippines.

Learn more about work in Guatemala.

Making the World a Brighter Place - Sister Cooperative Partnership Program

The U.S. cooperatives are teaming up with overseas partners to help improve service - and in some instances, help save lives! Kandiyohi Power Cooperative, of MN, has donated much needed safety equipment and tools to outfit two crews in Zacapa, Guatemala. In the Dominican Republic two volunteer linemen, who where there to provide training support to the local crews, left their personal tools behind as well as school supplies and toys for two local schools.

Become a Sister Co-op!

Celebration of Lights – Yei, Southern Sudan

After a 21-year civil war that devastated most of the country, leaving 2 million dead and 4 million refugees, Southern Sudan is now on the road to recovery. In June 2005, with funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, NRECA International Programs started rebuilding the electric infrastructure in downtown Yei – and providing hope for a better future.

The Celebration of Lights – Yei, Southern Sudan video (8-min) takes us from the devastation that the civil war left behind to the first phase of electrical development in Yei, Sudan. The hopes and dreams of Mary, Peter and others in Yei are captured in this short film.

Learn more about work in Sudan.

Tribute to Our Heroes: The U.S. NRECA Co-op Volunteers

In this short film, we hear directly from the linemen that have traveled near and far to rebuild electric lines – and lives – with the NRECA International Foundation. In their own words, we hear what it has meant to them personally to have been able to bring back lights and hope to thousands of people living in rural, developing countries.

Become a Volunteer!

When U.S. Co-ops Care, Great Things Happen – The Electrification Of Pignon, Haiti

Since 1998, Minnesota and other U.S. co-ops have banded together raising funds, equipment and manpower, to benefit the village of Pignon, Haiti. In February 2005, eleven linemen traveled to Pignon to build the first part of the distribution grid that benefited about 70 homes and businesses and public town square. They also have trained a local crew to continue with the work throughout the year.

Learn more about work in Haiti