In 2013, our dedicated volunteer base donated 4,457 hours of their time to making our projects a success! Year after year, we continue to be in awe of the generosity of our volunteers. Thank you to each special person who gave their time to Trees, Water & People in 2013. We hope to see you again in 2014!
If you are interested in volunteering with us please visit our website for upcoming volunteer opportunities or email Kelsey at kelsey@treeswaterpeople.org.
About this photo
In partnership with Sustainable Organic Integrated Livelihoods (SOIL), we have been working to “close the loop and transform the poop.” Part of this effort involves tree planting and educating the local youth.
In this photo, Haitian children in Cite Soleil learn about caring for the environment by planting trees using Ecosan compost. This special compost, produced by SOIL, is created using innovative composting toilets. The sustainable and environmentally friendly “humanure” compost is changing the way Haitians look at sanitation, agriculture, and natural resource management.
(Photo credit: SOIL 2013)
About this photo
TWP’s Clean Cookstove Program is unique because we build all of our stoves in-country, using locally sourced materials and creating much needed jobs. Our local staff are proud to be building products that will create healthier homes and a better environment for their country.
(Pictured: Staff from our clean cookstove factory in Nicaragua.)
About the photo
Our colleagues at Greenlight Planet, a company that manufactures the solar light you see in this photo, estimate that study times for students in homes that have switched from kerosene lighting to solar increase by 75 percent. In the homes we visit in Central America, we regularly find good evidence that this is the case. Several customers have commented that kids can study better at night and adults can crunch numbers for their business, or work on their savings and loans group ledgers later into the night. This is perhaps the greatest impact of our work alongside the direct cash savings that families experience.
Photo by Darren Mahuron
About this photo
Rural Central America has always been a magical escape for me. You see and experience life at its most basic levels, and while the people are often of little economic means, they are proud, hardworking and tremendously generous. The air is clean, smiles abound, and everyone is generally busy with something, but will never deny an opportunity to lend you a hand.
– Sebastian Africano, International Director
(Photo Credit: Darren Mahuron, 2013)
About this photo
A member of the Lenca Women’s Ceramics Cooperative in rural Marcala, Honduras holds up a piece of Ocote candle that she uses when she needs light after the sun sets on her village.
In Central America, 7 million people live without any access to electricity. Worldwide, more than 1.5 billion people have no electricity. Alternative sources of energy, such as kerosene and wood, are expensive and have a negative impact on both human health and the natural environment.
Our Solar Energy Program is helping to bring clean energy to local communities throughout Central America by providing access to affordable solar powered solutions.
Thank you to everyone who joined us this past weekend for the Grand Opening of the Sacred Earth Lodge. It was great to celebrate this important moment in the Tribal Renewable Energy Program’s history with all of our friends and family.
Sacred Earth Lodge is a one-of-a kind facility located on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. It is a beautiful and functional space available for rent to visitors, conferences, workshops, and as an affordable meeting location in the heart of Indian Country.
We offer hostel-style lodging with shared sleeping spaces, restrooms, and a community kitchen.
For information about visiting or renting the facility please contact John Motley at 970-484-3678 or email john@treeswaterpeople.org.
We hope you will visit soon!
About this photo
Jeff King, a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe, has been to many of our workshops at the Red Cloud Renewable Energy Center (RCREC), located on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. He captured this beautiful shot of the sun setting during his last visit to RCREC. This shot captures many of the renewable energy demonstrations at RCREC, including a strawbale home, wind power, and solar energy.
Jeff will be photographing the upcoming Grand Opening of Sacred Earth Lodge. Stay tuned for more of his beautiful photos!
About this photo
Our reforestation partners in Guatemala, La Asociación de Forestería Comunitaria de Guatemala Ut’z Che’, have been very busy this year! Just in 2013, they have already planted 85,450 trees in 4 different communities throughout Guatemala, with more to be planted by the end of the year. Species planted include moringa, lemon, orange, pine, papaya, tamarind, noni, and guanaba.
These trees are important for both environmental protection and economic development. Local communities use these trees to improve watershed and soil health, as fruit orchards, and as future sources of timber and fine hardwood.
To learn more about our work in Guatemala please visit our website.
About this photo
Mae DuMarce worked with TWP employees, Amanda Haggerty (left) and Heather Herrell (right), this past weekend to finish construction of the Sacred Earth Lodge. With the help of dedicated volunteers and staff, we have built the new Lodge from the ground up. This new building will be used as a training facility and dormitory for our Tribal Renewable Energy Program. Thanks to everyone who has helped make this project a success!
To learn about the October 11th Grand Opening of the Sacred Earth Lodge please visitwww.treeswaterpeople.org/sacredearthlodge
Sustainable Development, Sustainable Livelihoods 