We had the opportunity to sit down with one of our fantastic partner organizations located in the Peruvian highlands, specifically in Trujillo, to learn more about their work providing families in rural communities with electricity through sustainable energy sources. We had the pleasure of speaking with Gabriel (Gandhi) Alva, WindAid’s current Executive Director, and Jennifer Raysik-Young, the Deputy Executive Director.
When I asked Gandhi how he ended up working for WindAid with a degree in Anthropology, he smiled and shared that he had known about WindAid since childhood because he was Michael Verkamp’s neighbor — the founder of the organization, which started back in 2006. Michael began WindAid in his garage, building wind turbines with co-founder Señor Abel Yupaqui Davila and other local Peruvians using instructional manuals. WindAid was registered as an American NGO in 2014 and as a Peruvian NGO in 2018. A quick look at their website (WindAid Institute) shows the significant impact this organization has already had on its target communities. For example, they have installed over 50 wind turbines across Peru and conducted over 100 educational workshops in partnership with local schools and universities.
I asked the team a few questions to learn more about their work and mission at WindAid, as well as what volunteers can expect from this amazing experience:
(VoWo): Many volunteers are interested in working with animals or children. What makes volunteering in the energy or sustainability sector uniquely rewarding? And what would you say to someone considering coming to WindAid?
(Gandhi): Well, I will say that when the volunteers apply here at WindAid, they probably focus first on the fact that they will gain experience by building a wind turbine. So, there is a lot of engineering involved during their journey. But I would also say to them that this volunteering gives them the chance to immerse themselves in nature whenever they travel with us to the rural communities. We are talking about mountains, a lot of green, animals. So there is the chance of not just staying in the city, there is also the chance to really go to spots where there are no tourists. And these places that are not touristy usually are, well, for me and perhaps to others as well, better places than the tourist ones. Volunteers can connect with local people, some of whom may have never met a foreigner before. So, it’s an experience that I will say is generally more personal. It’s a really beautiful experience.
(VoWo): What kind of environment can the volunteers expect when they come and stay with you and what are some of the free-time activities available to them?
(Gandhi): A very important point we emphasize to volunteers is that we never expose them to danger. We live in Trujillo, where we have what we call the “volunteer house” and our workshop. Both are located in a very safe area of the city, so there’s no need to worry about safety. We are very conscious of volunteer safety, which is why we carefully selected both the volunteer house and the workshop locations, and the same approach applies to the communities we choose.
The activities we offer are also safe, such as going to the mall or visiting a bar—these are completely safe. We also give them safety tips, like advising them not to talk to strangers and encouraging them to use trusted taxi apps, especially if they’re out late at night for parties.
Trujillo is also located in a great spot for surfing, and it’s safe—there are no sharks. There are also companies that organize hiking and trekking in the mountains, which is one of the interesting things about Peru: the coastline is close to the mountains. Additionally, there are many ancient pre-Hispanic temples in the area. One of the most famous is the Temple of the Sun, and another is a pyramid-like temple with a museum. You may have heard about the mummy with tattoos, who was a priestess and was featured in National Geographic. This is not far from Trujillo.
(VoWo): What are some of your current partners and how do they support the work that you do?
(Gandhi): We have partnered with Airbus, a company from France, which has helped us improve our wind turbine design. They’ve done excellent work with us by supporting this initiative. I’d also like to mention that many universities are involved in supporting our efforts, driven by their interest in doing charitable work and involving their students. For example, Villanova University and Cornell University, both in the U.S., are great partners. Additionally, the National University of Trujillo, where our workshop is located, has been a huge supporter. They provide us with space to work and offer the involvement of professors and students who want to contribute and help. So, it’s a combination of many supporters—from universities to local authorities and organizations in Peru, who have also backed us in the past.
(VoWo): You mention on the official WindAid website that you’ve conducted over 100 educational workshops with local schools and universities. What do you hope to bring to people in these workshops?
(Gandhi): Yes, so the educational workshops often happen when universities or schools reach out to us to share our work with students or children. There is a lot of interest in renewable energy, especially in an organization like ours, which I would say is quite unique in Peru. People are usually very curious about what we do, so we always organize presentations. These presentations are typically followed by educational workshops, where kids, for example, can build a small wind turbine and gain a better understanding of the mechanics behind it.
Gandhi tells us that volunteers can prepare short presentations for these workshops if the opportunity presents itself. A wonderful way to practice their Spanish too!
(VoWo): Can you tell me a little bit about the goals or projects you have for WindAid in the next couple of years?
(Gandhi): Yes, of course. Our main goal is to continue installing wind turbines and solar installations for more families in need across the country. Another key goal is to improve our generator design so that it can generate more energy, eventually providing enough power for families to use more appliances, such as a TV or stereo. Right now, we focus on basic needs like providing access to lighting and phone charging. There’s a lot of interest in improving every part of the wind turbine, not just the generator, but also the blade design. We’re working on making the blades more efficient at capturing wind. We also want to improve our battery system—the part that stores energy. For example, when there’s no wind, the energy is stored in the battery. So, there are many engineering projects underway. Additionally, we aim to strengthen our community work with families. We need more people to help us by sharing their knowledge on how to assess the community impact of our work. Currently, I’m the only team member specializing in community work, but we definitely need more people in that department.
(VoWo): In the last couple of years you have been in this position, do you see any shift within the mentality just overall in Peru or maybe the area you are in, like the department you live in towards renewable energy sources?
(Gandhi): Yes, I can tell that Peruvians are becoming more aware of the importance of renewable energy. I think the majority of people know what a solar panel is, and it’s now quite common to see solar panels on houses. However, not many are aware of wind turbines. There are three wind farms in the country, all located along the coastline, but there is still limited attention or interest in exploring wind energy further. This is one of the reasons why people become so curious about us. When we tell them we build wind turbines, they’re often surprised and excited, saying, “Wow, wind turbines! That’s so cool!” It’s especially unusual for people to meet those who actually build them. This curiosity leads them to take tours and learn more about our work.
During our conversation, Jennifer enthusiastically jumped in to share a bit of her own story with WindAid. After ten years working in the energy sector, but on the business side, she was looking to make a career change. That’s when she found the volunteer program with WindAid. During her stay in Trujillo, she was surprised to learn that the organization partners with Villanova University, where she had recently applied for grad school and was waiting to hear back on her application.
(Jennifer): I started in October 2023 and went down to Peru for about a week to complete an installation with a group of participants from all over the world. Then I stayed on as a volunteer working remotely from the US. In March 2023, Gandhi presented me with an opportunity to become an officer. So I now handle the administrative, banking and finance projects on the American side as well as support marketing and fundraising initiatives. While in graduate school, I got involved with the Villanova Engineering Service Learning Program which supports humanitarian projects all around the world, and WindAid is one of them. The idea is to give back to communities using engineering knowledge students learn in school, and then applying it in real life. Our students go down there for about a week at a time in the fall and spring. Some students participate in a summer program for one to three months during the summer. They do various projects ranging from building small parts for the wind turbine on campus and then larger parts in the Trujillo workshop. At the end of the week, they have the opportunity to install parts in the field and engage with the community. The experience is just all around really great for Villanova students. I’ve had the really amazing opportunity to see how WindAid works from different perspectives – volunteer, employee, student, and partner. I’ve gotten feedback from all different types of people, including faculty, donors, researchers. They are always attracted to WindAid’s work because it’s so technical and there’s so much community awareness that it provides a well-rounded learning experience for the students.
As Gandhi tells us, it’s not uncommon for people who have volunteered with WindAid to later become part of the official team. Many volunteers value the purpose of their work and feel a strong attachment to the team once their stay at WindAid comes to an end. This is a true testament to the wonderful working environment the organization has cultivated over the years.
If you’re interested in learning more about engineering and sustainable energy solutions, WindAid is definitely a great place to start. You’ll join a committed and well-organized team, experience an enriching cultural immersion, and have the chance to develop your skills and abilities on site. And let’s not forget the possibility of a spontaneous surfing trip or a hike to visit a pre-Hispanic temple!
All images courtesy of WindAid Institute.
