Hi, I'm Lottie. In July, I will be travelling to Lobitos on the northern coast of Peru to volunteer with EcoSwell on renewable energy projects. To raise money, I’ll be climbing Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh enough times to match the height of Machu Picchu - that’s ten ascents in total, the equivalent of climbing almost 8000 feet!

Projects include UPS + solar system installations in medical centres, hybrid micro-grid installations, residential PV system installations, solar distillers, improved cookstoves, and energy consultations. More information can be found at their website here: https://www.ecoswell.org/renewable-energy

This project matters to me because it connects directly to what I’m studying and what I care about. I’ve just finished my first year of Civil Engineering and I’m especially interested in renewable energy and using engineering to make a real difference in people’s lives. In Peru, nearly 1.5 million people still don’t have access to electricity, and places like Lobitos experience weekly blackouts lasting 2–8 hours. Only 4% of Peru’s energy comes from non-conventional renewable sources like solar and wind, even though energy is the second biggest monthly expense for low-income families. Earlier this year, I worked on a university project looking at solutions to power outages in Johannesburg, and I’m excited to build on that by helping with hands-on work in Peru that tackles real energy challenges and supports communities directly.

Taking part in this volunteer project comes with a number of costs, which I'm aiming to cover through fundraising, as well as a couple of contributions from the university. The main costs include flights to Lima then Talara (≈£1600) and the EcoSwell participation fee (£955). If I raise more than enough to cover essentials, I will split the money between an extra donation to EcoSwell and further travel, hopefully climbing Machu Picchu for real! Any donation, no matter the size, would truly mean a lot to me and help make this incredible opportunity possible - to contribute to meaningful work while learning more about the world.