For me being in Nicaragua - especially in the northern area of Jinotega where I am now puts things in perspective.  Continue Reading

Which is better, a solar lamp made by Bright New Ideas on site in Nicaragua or a home made kerosene lamp?

This video was filmed 29 March 2008 in the community of La Hermita, Jinotega in northern Nicaragua where there is no access to electricity and likely will not ever be any. These children have class in this building, which is also a house. As you can see, when I asked which is better, the answer was, “…the solar lamp is better because it gives more light and the kerosene lamp uses oil.”

Patrick Checks In – Click Here to Listen!

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When Mario and I got word that having three modes of brightness on our light would probably be too complicated for people in rural Nicaragua, our team mate Matt who is sitting way up in snowy Minnesota rushed in for an international-style rescue operation. Continue Reading

As a recent college graduate, I don’t have dental insurance at the moment so my clever plan to get a free check up and cleaning was to visit my freind Luis Lanzas, who works in the medical field and happens to have dental training.  But I never thought it would happen like this… Continue Reading

For me, one of the most surprising pieces of feedback we have heard about the solar lamp during this journey so far is that our lantern is “a little unaccomodating,” as translated directly from the spanish, “poquito incomodo.” 

Continue Reading

I got a few jobs lately so my posting frequency has gone down a bit, but I will try and remedy it in the next few days.

If you have $60,000 to spend on a watch, make sure it’s this one from Girard-Perreraux where they donate a “substantial portion” of the proceeds to the American Nicaraguan Foundation.  Apparently, it has a “chronograph with perpetual calendar, rose gold case and a self-winding movement.”  I don’t really know what any of that means and, personally, if I spend $60,000 on a watch it better also be able to fly me to the moon.  But, hey, if expensive watches are your thing, there can’t be a better way to spend it than helping those in need.  You can be both classy AND socially-conscious to all your friends!

At right you can see a picture of a bunch of our materials all ready to assemble into lamps.  Below that is me testing a solar panel voltage rating.  You can see the evidence of the hot Jinotegan sun on my tomato colored skin.  That´s what you get for being of Irish heritage I suppose.