Candle and the wind

Without light, life in the village of El Alumbre was monotonous and silent after-dark. Harnessing the wind to produce electricity was unheard of and treated with scepticism when Practical Action first arrived in the highlands of Peru. “I used to complain about the wind. It would take away the light as my candles would blow out,” one villager, Mrs Laura recalls.

Now, every home in the village is lit-up thanks to small 100-watt generators which power up batteries that provide electricity for lighting. The local school is powered by a larger 500-watt power source and evenings in the village are filled with laughter and activity. “The wind now gives me light,” Mrs Laura acclaims. “I can cook, weave or knit long into the evening and my children can study late without straining their eyes.”

Gilmer Huaman is the trained technician and elected administrator in charge of maintaining light in the village. He collects small payments from the villagers. Mrs Laura pays nine Soles (£2) a month for her electricity. The money is saved up to buy new batteries but so far, she has never had any problem with the equipment.