Two years ago, Michigan cooperatives sent teams to design and string a mountain circuit in Guatemala. This changed the lives of villagers who now have house lights, electric cooking, refrigeration, and a school with lights. The job also changed the lives of our employees who worked in the country and back home to make this possible.
Michigan electric cooperatives may head to Bolivia in 2018 to electrify another mountainous area and change more lives. The region, served by a local electric cooperative, wants to extend a 40 mile circuit into a remote region. We may get the chance to build the first two sections of this long radial line.
How does this work? The National Rural Electric Cooperative Association operates an International Program specializing in forming relationships and seeking out opportunities for U.S. cooperatives to electrify remote regions in developing countries. They pave the way with foreign diplomacy and facilitate with the U.S. State Department.
Our job focuses on what we do best—finding ways to get people and material into difficult, remote areas. Then we construct electric lines and bring electricity to people who can’t otherwise receive this life-changing service. Sometimes these physical and logistical challenges border on the ridiculous, and that’s where we excel.
Stay tuned for more exciting news. We may get tripped up by foreign diplomacy or other complications outside our control. Until then, think about whether you have interest in helping. Then, reflect on how remarkable it is that our Boards and members support this expensive and complex lift, simply because they believe in our mission of helping people!
Ready to help any way that is needed!
I think this is one of the most amazing things coops do that shows how our business model is uniquely based on principals of helping people rise up together to help the broader community. Demonstrating this type of culture in these communities shows that, in a world of division, amazing things can be accomplished when people can work together cooperatively. I would really like to be involved in any way possible. Thank you board.
This past year has proven to me just how fortunate at am to have trusted my gut and taken a leap of faith to come on board at Wolverine Power Cooperative. I’m truly proud to work for a company that is so interested in helping others to fulfill our goal to bring electricity to rural communities, whether right here at home, or across the world! People are my passion, and being a part of bringing such a positive change into a truly “rural community” is an amazing thing. I would love to have the opportunity to help out in anyway I can!!!