Group Introduction- 10/21

October 21, 2013

Deliverable: Concept generation and schedule
[What's a deliverable? A deliverable is what Amy, our teacher, expects us to produce for that class.]

Last semester’s EXTD 120 class developed an improved, removable bicycle stand for a bicycle-powered blender for a youth group in Nicaragua, and our goal is to improve that design. The bicycle stand needs to work with the bicycle-powered blender. This project involves the development of a universal bicycle stand that can be manufactured locally and affordably in Nicaragua and can be used on a variety of bikes.

Sister Community:

We are partnered with GrupoFenix, “a consortium of entities and people revolving around renewable energy and sustainable development in Nicaragua, formed in 1996. It consists of several small organizations, projects and individuals located in Managua, the rural north of Nicaragua and the United States. Members of Grupo Fenix include: PFAE (Alternative Energy Source Program), COOMUSOT (Cooperativa Multisectorial “Mujeres Solares de Totogalpa”, SuniSolar and Skyheat. PFAE at the National Engineering University (UNI) in Managua serves as the legal base for and directs GrupoFenix." GrupoFenix, with these organizations, focuses on developing and introducing solar-powered devices.

Nicaragua and Sabana Grande

Nicaragua is an agriculture-based economy with high unemployment and an unstable economy. The wealth distribution is unequal. Sabana Grande, Totogalpa is one of the poorer parts of Nicaragua, the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The Nicaraguan economy is based mainly on trade and industry, but in Sabana Grande 80% of the population gets an income from agriculture only. In this region, there is a large deforestation problem, limiting access to resources. The area is a tropical climate with many dry spells, but has high levels of solar radiation. 97% of the national consumption of the forests went towards cooking with wood burning stoves.

Group Roles:
Goal minder = Katie
Community partner liaison = Alex
Timeline minder = Debbie