THRIVE Solar Lights Donated for Ecuador Earthquake

Bay Area Returned Peace Corps Volunteers organize a donation of emergency solar lights for those displaced from their homes because of the Ecuador Earthquake.

The 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit coastal Ecuador on April 16th. Thousands were displaced from their homes, and many in the rural communities of coastal Ecuador still live without electricity.

Fremont's THRIVE Solar Energy donated about 300 of its solar lights for the earthquake victims. Initially, the problem was trying to find a way to deliver the solar lights to Ecuador. 3 post-disaster non-profits and 2 airlines could not offer easy solutions for this logistical problem. After days of looking for a solution and knowing that each night that passed meant the use of toxic smoking kerosene lamps or hazardous candles for the Ecuadorean living in temporary shelters - the group of Bay Area Peace Corps Volunteers decided to take matter into their own hands and deliver the solar lights themselves.

Fremont-based former Peace Corps Volunteer, Maria Caluag, organized an Indiegogo crowdfunder to raise the money to afford a flight for James Madden, a former Peace Corps Volunteer who served in the same coastal towns in Ecuador. He flew from SFO to Quito on Monday, May 2nd, and delivered the THRIVE solar lights to the Ecuadorean communities he once served.

Approximately 1,000 - 1,700 individuals will benefit from the solar lights that were donated for years to come.