Legacy of Light Solar Electrification Project goal is to install solar electrification systems

on the humble homes of the Pueblo of Berlin in eastern El Salvador. Each home

without electricity will receive a solar system that includes three multi-functional LED

Lights. Besides being the instrument for illumination for the home, it also is designed

with a USB port for charging cell phone batteries. The Light is designed so it can be

disconnected from the charge cable to be used as a flashlight. The on/off switch allows

for three levels of illumination, dim, medium and bright. The unit uses four AA

rechargeable batteries, which are easily purchased at the local hardware store. The

LED Lights are nearly indestructible, constructed of a hard rubber-like material to make

the unit dustproof, waterproof, and very durable even if dropped. Maintenance is

minimal and efficiency optimal for the Legacy of Light Electrification Goals. The cost for

the system of three LED Lights and ten-watt solar panel is $210. Administrative costs

add $35 for a total of $245 per installation. 

 

 

This Legacy of Light Solar Project is a mission of the Parish of St. Joseph of Berlin, El

Salvador. A letter of invitation from the Parish Priest, Fr. Candido, for me to serve as

Lay Missionary to organize and implement the project is attached to this narrative. I am

proud to accept his invitation as a demonstration of my love for the people of El

Salvador. It is a love that grew out of missionary work I did with the Parish Team from

2001 to 2007 in the Berlin area. In addition, 

 

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my faith motivates me to do this work as away of demonstrating Jesus’ expression for preferential treatment of the poor. I do so

without remuneration for the work except for a line item in the budget for transportation,

room and board when I travel to Berlin to supervise the project.

 

Donations to the project are tax deductible. Checks should be made to Los Olivos CIS

and sent to Robert Cook at 713 Indiana Ave., Des Moines, IA 50314. Los Olivos CIS is

the organization responsible for accounting of funds to ensure proper expenditures of

donations. It is an organization that has served the poor of El Salvador since 1994, with

an office in San Salvador and a state-side office address at P.O. Box 76, Westmont, IL

60559-0076.

 

The primary goal of Legacy of Light is to provide illumination in the dark of night. Your

donation will help bring hope and dignity to families that have traditionally lived

nocturnal life by the light of candles, cheap flashlights and contaminating oil lamps.

An important additional benefit will be to allow children and youth to do school

homework toward a much hoped-for education degree. Education is for them, as it is for

all people, the primary hope they have for breaking out of the subsistence living poverty

that they live as farm families on the slopes of the mountain.

 

For more information contact Robert Cook, 713 Indiana Ave., Des Moines, IA 50314.

You may call me at 515-238- 3105. My email address is .

A Legacy of Light Solar Electrification Project Budget

 

65 Solar Systems (includes 3 LED Lights and one 10 Watt Solar Panel $13,650.00

Labor for Installation (per panel) $ 650.00

Organizing Communities $ 650.00

*Room and Board @5.25 per day X 30 days $ 157.50

**Air Fare from Des Moines to El Salvador $700 X 2 $ 1,400.00

*** Ground Transportation in El Salvador $ 450.00

Total for 65 solar units installed $ 16,957.50

*Room and Board is provided by Haydee Granados a friend for 20 years

** Air Fare is estimated at $700 per ticket for two trips

*** Ground Transportation is provided by Alfredo Dominguez, a friend who was

the bus driver for transportation for delegations when I served as Missionary in

Berlin 2001 to 2007. I rent a Car at $25 per day for six days and pay Alfredo $100

per day for three days.