Participant Stories

The WindAid Experience was…

Annika Camarillo

Idaho, USA
Cohort 157, July 2024

Learn more about Annika’s experience as a participant of the Engineering Program at WindAid!

  • Tara Mevissen

    Australia
    Cohort 158, August 2024


    The Windaid experience reignited my awe and appreciation for the applications of physics within our day to day. Displaying the invaluable impact practical engineering can have on families and lives, all whilst fostering friendships I continue to cherish”. 

  • Uche Agwu

    USA/Nigeria
    Cohort 157, July 2024

    As I was finishing my grad school program, I was looking for an international volunteer opportunity to use my engineering skills to do truly meaningful work, learn new skills, and expose myself to a different culture. The WindAid Insitute provided all of that and more. WindAid was a wonderful opportunity to implement sustainable energy solutions for families in need, and I learned more about wind energy and manufacturing processes in general. Additionally, participating in the WindAid program allowed me to explore the beautiful landscape of Peru and connect with its rich food, culture, and people. I will always be grateful for such a wonderful experience and I highly recommend this opportunity to anyone looking for an immersive and impactful volunteer experience”.

  • Katie Berry

    Scotland, UK
    Cohort 147, October 2023

    "My four weeks at WindAid completely exceeded any expectations I had before I went. The energy of our volunteer group as well as Gandhi and Abel was amazing - the work we did in the workshop and at the installation didn't even feel like work at all because we were all having so much fun! As well as gaining practical, hands-on engineering experience, I also had the opportunity to try many new activities outside of work such as surfing and sandboarding. I'll never forget my time in Peru and would recommend volunteering with WindAid to anyone!"

  • Federica Medici

    Bologna, Italy
    Cohort 146, September 2023


    Collaborating with WindAid has been an enriching experience from many perspectives. During my three-month stay in Trujillo, I had the opportunity to volunteer for the Engineering Program while also pursuing research for my Master's Thesis. This dual involvement allowed me to improve both my practical and theoretical knowledge with WindAid’s support.

    Working hands-on in the field provided me with a deep understanding and appreciation of the mechanics involved in constructing a wind turbine, while the final phase of turbine installation was particularly fulfilling. Thanks to WindAid, I was able to embark on an international project and gain valuable experience in a hands-on environment, an opportunity that is quite rare. 

    Thank you WindAid for one of the best experience of my life!

  • Brianna Swanton

    New York, USA
    Cohort, 2022

    “WindAid was an amazing experience. I had no workshop experience, no engineering degree and renewable background - but I gained so much experience at WIndAid! I learned to weld, use an array of tools, and create resin models from molds. The housing was right in the heart of Trujillo and near many food options. Abel, the workshop leader, was truly a gem and taugh me in spite of my lack of experience. Gandhi, the director, is a fantastic personable individual who made the program fun. This program truly was fantastic. From learning how to create things at the workshop to installing our wind turbine in a rural community, my experience at WindAid was unique and unforgettable!”

  • Andrew Carlin

    Glasgow, UK
    Cohort, 2016/Cohort, 2022

    “I had an amazing experience at WindAid, getting the opportunity to make a wind turbine with my own 2 hands. Further we had opportunities to travel around Peru at the weekends. When the final week came, it was super awesome to be offgrid, an experience I’ve not had since - I was disconnected from social media, could see the Milky Way, eating local produce every day and changing a families life all the while.”

  • Iñes Rodriguez Pariza

    Bilbao, Spain
    Cohort, 2018


    “It was not only a personal growth experience helping others, but also an opportunity to get to know the incredible family called WindAid. I left with the certainty that the more you give, the more you receive.”

Jonathan Auman

Villanova University, USA
Partnership Program, October 2023

Learn more about Jonathan’s experience as a participant of the WindAid x Villanova Engineering Service Learning (VESL) partnership program!