Grupo Fenix: Promotion and Production of Solar Energy

Come to Nicaragua and engage your head, heart, and hands in the real work of developing countries. Our hands-on course allows you to be immersed in the daily life of rural Nicaraguans by living with host families and working alongside local community members to create their vision of a model community through renewable energy and sustainable practices.

Discuss the theory behind solar energy and the challenges of development with your instructors and other course participants. Spend your days learning how to build solar cookers, photovoltaic panels, and installing photovoltaic systems. Laugh along with your host family as you try to recall your high school Spanish, balance water on your head or make tortillas. Most activities and classes are held in the adobe Solar Centre. Housing will be simple, like that of a typical rural Nicaraguan family.

This 8-day course (offered twice a year) has been held by Grupo Fenix since 1999. It is a great introduction to the science and use of appropriate renewable energy technologies such as solar cookers, dryers and photovoltaic systems.

Also for those of you who decide to stay on for our Natural Building Course (22nd January to 5th February 2012) the course includes a visit to the nearby beautiful Somoto Canyon where you will spend a day exploring and swimming in its natural pools.

The course fee of $800 includes all food and lodging, with a $50 deposit to be paid before 1st December to insure a place in the course. We are offering a special discount for Grupo Fenix volunteers who want to participate in the course and those interested in taking both the Solar Culture Course and the Natural Building Course.

*Participants will need to arrive into Managua by the 14th January 2012; the course will finish on 22nd January 2012 with a farewell lunch in Managua ending no later than 2pm.

NATURAL BUILDING COURSE 2012
22nd January 2012 - 3rd February 2012*

This course will provide you with the opportunity to learn and employ several aspects of building with natural materials while constructing a classroom for the AgroEcological Solar Promoters. Your time with us will include classroom discussion of various topics but will largely consist of hands on application of a variety of natural building techniques.

Topics and techniques covered will include: foundation systems, roof systems, wall systems including adobe, cob, wattle and daub, recyclables and plastic bottle bricks and straw/clay, basic carpentry, bamboo construction, earth bag construction, earthen plasters and sculptural techniques, earthen floors and regional resourcing.

This class is appropriate for all levels and areas of interest from architects and builders to the simply curious.

Experience the local culture while being hosted by one of the families of the Solar Women of Totogalpa (www.mujeressolares.org). Laugh along with your host family as you try to recall your high school Spanish, balance water on your head or make tortillas.

Lead Instructors: Liz Johndrow of Earthen Endeavors (www.earthenendeavors.com) and Nancy Bernstein of Amstutz Woodworking LLC

Course Tuition: $1,495 includes course, food and lodging with host family and travel to and from airport. Airfare not included.

If you are interested in participating and would like more information please contact us at thegrupofenix@gmail.com

*Participants will need to arrive in Managua by the 21st January. The course will finish on 3rd February with a farewell dinner.

Download the course flyer (MS Word, PDF) and the course schedule (MS Excel , PDF).

The Grupo Fenix Family located in Nicaragua Provides Opportunities for The Promotion of Solar Energy - The Production of Solar Energy - Educational Courses-International Volunteering - International Development

NATURAL BUILDING COURSE 2012 22nd January 2012 - 3rd February 2012*

NATURAL BUILDING COURSE 2012
22nd January 2012 - 3rd February 2012*