Solar Installation in Pah Dang Akha Village

On the 13th of November an FTO development team traveled to the Pah Dang Akha village, in the Chiang Rai region, to install a series of solar panels atop a community building. This project was done to help relieve the thinly-stretched powergrid of the small community, ensuring that the water-filtration system consistently pumps and the lights in the Pah Dang Akha church remain on. Upon arrival the FTO team met with Chalee, a community leader and member of the church, who was welcoming and helpful to the volunteers during their time in the small mountaintop village. Nine solar panels were installed on the roof of a stout building across from the church, used for village congregations and ministry meetings.

FTO team members and local volunteers help unload and hoist the solar panels. 

The team split in two for the installation. A few labored on the hot aluminium roof, removing the old panels and replacing them with new ones, while the others worked inside, wiring the solar system and working with Chalee and other locals to route power to the church. The villagers were gracious and hospitable to the team, feeding them a meal at the end of their long night of work and leading a tour of the village coffee farm the following morning.

The team working on solar installation.

The goal of this installation was to provide the church with a reliable and long-term source of electricity. It was dark when the team finally achieved power, and there was an enormous sense of joy and gratitude when the lights of the steeple’s cross finally flickered on.

The newly-lit cross atop the Pah Dang Ahka church.

The FTO installation team.