Annie Keel After graduating in 2007 Annie travelled in Latin America for a year. While on the road, she realised that her future career would need to offer: opportunities to travel; the rewards of being part of something socially useful; and the chance to work with and learn from like-minded people…international development was the perfect choice. On returning to the UK she worked as a policy assistant and programme administrator for the international development agency CAFOD. While there, she came across the work of AIDG and was impressed by the innovative and sustainable model the organisation uses in addressing the causes of poverty. She arrived in October 2009 and plans to spend a year supporting AIDG’s Guatemala programme through grant writing and management. 

(Arrived: Oct '09)

 

Work at AIDG: Grant development and management

 

Daniel Buchbinder (Imperial College London, Msc Environmental Technology). After studying business in 2003, Daniel worked for 5 years in the cosmetics industry as a brand manager first in Mexico and later in Spain.  Simultaniously, he studied a Masters course in environmental geography at the National Autonomous University in Mexico (UNAM) as he decided to blend his passion for sustainable living and his professional expertise as a marketer. In 2008 he made a defiant career shift, leaving aside facial creams and shampoo, by joining an Environmental Technology course where he specialized in business and environment.  Aside from formal marketing experience, Daniel has been involved in various consultancy projects in different countries and is also a strategic advisor for a Mexican NGO promoting the UN Millennium development goals. Daniel is deeply interested in working for systemic solutions where environmental and social considerations will be naturally inherent in successful business strategy and decisions. As a Market Analyst at AIDG, Daniel will incoroporate this idea into the product development process while also providing strategic marketing support.

(Arrived: Feb '10)

 

Work at AIDG: Tech R & D product development process; marketing research

 

Peter Krige (University of Cape Town, B.Sc. (Hons.) Mechatronic Engineering) After finishing his undergraduate thesis which focused on an appropriate technology solution in the area of small scale wind generator design, he set off to work with projects implementing other sustainable solutions. This led him to travel through Central America, visiting several projects on the way. After getting himself lost in Guatemala by taking the ‘wrong’ bus he found himself in Xela where he was introduced to AIDG. He was impressed with AIDG’s technical projects and wanted to join them in exploring these appropriate engineering avenues. Apart from looking after three chickens and growing a roof top vegetable garden he will be working on an induction generator controller for micro hydroelectric systems and furnishing AIDG’s electronics lab. After his internship at AIDG he will be starting a two year masters in innovative design engineering, bringing with him the experience gained at AIDG and his passion for sustainable and environmental products.

(Arrived: March '10)

 

Work at AIDG: IGC Prototype; Electronics Lab 

 

David Evitt (Northwestern University, B.S. Mechanical Engineering) David joined AIDG in April 2010 as an engineering intern developing biogas utilization products. His previous experiences include tuning the engine control parameters for a 450 horsepower 9.3 liter diesel engine at Caterpillar, prototype testing at IDEO, and building a single-seat race car for the Formula SAE collegiate design competition. He is thrilled with the opportunity to help improve access to clean, efficient cook stoves and explore the beautiful country of Guatemala.

(Arrived: March '10)

 

Work at AIDG:Biogas Stove Exploration and Prototype

 

Sadhbh MacMahon (Beng Mechanical Engineering, Montreal Canada) With an appetite for theory and calculation cultivated in her mechanical engineering degree, and a background in trial by fire all practical hands on building as a Special FX technician and machinist in Toronto, Canada, Sadhbh has found her perfect blend of office and workshop here at AIDG. That coupled with emersion in a new culture, working in a new language, and working finally for a wholesome cause has this intern experience exceeding her expectations of balance and fulfillment by far.  Sadhbh is currently assisting with the development of Xelateco’s pelton cup machining process, for micro hydro electric turbines.  She is also working on improvements and performance testing of the pico hydro electric turbines, and working to improve the output of biodiesel from local used vegetable shortening supplies. Future projects are on the horizon, with endless possibilities.

(Arrived: March '10)

 

Work at AIDG: Microhyrdo pelton; Picohyrdo testing; Biodiesel development 

 

Ivo Oliveira (Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Degree in Sanitary Engineering and Masters in Bionenergy) In 2008 Ivo began to look for hands-on experience to help him write his Masters thesis and was given the chance to work in El Progreso, Honduras.  There he was employed as a Research and Development Engineer in the field of anaerobic digestion for a Belgium company that provides industrial low-cost systems for the treatment of palm oil meal effluents (POME). During that time, Ivo had the opportunity of meeting non-profit organizations and different volunteers that were providing efficient cooking stoves in different communities. These experiences provoked in him a clear desire to work on a more local and/or rural level supporting communities with appropriate technologies toward effective water treatment and renewable energy alternatives. Ivo believes within these areas there are greater economic gains as well as environmental and health benefits through cutting their dependence on fossil fuels and imported energy.  After completing his Master degree in Bioenergy with an emphasis in Anaerobic digestion of Biomass in December of 2009 back in Portugal, he applied for an Internship at AIDG.  Ivo arrived in Guatemala the beginning of April and is excited to be a part of different anaerobic digestion & vermicompost projects here in Guatemala and is hoping to learn Maya- K'iche’ along the way.

(Arrived:April '10)

 

Work at AIDG: Biodigestors and vermicompost/culture

 

Nidhi Teerdhala (Haas School of Business, University of California, Berkeley, MBA 2011)After graduating with an undergraduate degree in business, Nidhi worked as investment banker on Wall Street and then at Time Warner Inc. in Mergers & Acquisitions. Needing a break from the corporate world, Nidhi decided to go to business school where she is exploring the worlds of international development and social enterprise. Nidhi spent a few weeks in Quetzaltenango last summer and was thrilled to come back when she stumbled upon the amazing work that AIDG does in Xela. This summer, Nidhi is assisting AIDG in various aspects of the GuateVerde business plan competition and is helping to build a platform that will aggregate business plan resources for entrepreneurs and nonprofits/social enterprises. Nidhi wants to work in international development and the social sector after graduation, so she is very excited to be a part of AIDG this summer.(Arrived: June 2010)

 

Work at AIDG: Business incubation projects

Past Interns

• Ben Dana Technical documentation; Solar Water Heaters March '08 - May '10 (Manchester Metropolitan University Msc Environment, Management and Sustainable Development)
• Will Stone Microhydro & Picohydro Systems; Test Benches; Foundry February '09 - March '10 (University of Adelaide, B.E. Mechanical Engineering/Science)
• Kyrea Njuguna Biodigestors and picohyrdro in Haiti September '09 - December '09 (University of Cambridge, UK MPhile Engineering for Sustainable Development)
• Christopher Salam Biodigestor, biogas & vermicompost July '09 - December '09 (University of California at Davis, M.S., Biological Systems Engineering)
• Carol Chan Business plan competition, Earned income strategy June '09 - December '09 (IESE Business School in Barcelona, Spain, M.B.A.)
• Lori Flynn Business plan competition, grants, & research February '09 - November '09  (University of California at Santa Cruz – Ph.D. Computer Science)
• Daniel Moncayo Business plan competition, Tech R&D feasibility template May '09 - August '09 (University of Colorado at Boulder, M.B.A. ’10)
• Vergil Weatherford Solar Hot Water Project, Ram Pump Project Management, Biodigestors October '08 - June '09 (University of Colorado at Boulder, M.S., Civil Engineering)
• David Goosen Micro-Hydro, Solar Water Heaters & Data Acquisition June '08 - April '09 (B.A.Sc. Mechanical Engineering, University of British Columbia)
• James Gabriel Duncan Biodigestors/Biogas October '08 - March '09 (University of Florida, BS Environmental Science)
• Dan Hepler Micro & Pico-Hydroelectric Systems, July '08 -December '08 (University of British Columbia, B.A.Sc. Electrical Engineering)
• Natalie Bonilla Maldonado Community Outreach and Facilitation, April '08 - December '08 (The Brussels School of International Studies, M.A., International Relations)[Profile]

• Katherine Metzelaar  Marketing and Business Development, August '08 - December '08  (La Salle University, BA Communication & Leadership and Global Understanding)

• Kyle Farmer TecoTours and Education Center, April '08 - October '08
  

• Kate Simpson Water Project Management, April '08 - September '08 (Sydney University, Australia – B. Chemical Engineering/ B. Arts [French, Spanish])
  

• Meg Harper UC Berkeley Batch Solar Hot Water Heaters, June '08 - August '08 (Warren Wilson College, BS Environmental Studies) 
• Sunny Pereira Haiti biodigestors & composting latrines, February '08 - July '08 (Michigan Technological University - Environmental Engineering)[Profile]

• Gordon Schweitzer: Ram Pumps, May '08 - July '08 (University of Dayton, Mechanical Engineering)

• Alexandra Surasky-Ysasi: Micro-Hydroelectricity Production, September '07 - June '08 (Brown University, Mechanical Engineering) [Profile]

• Chase Nelson: Dome Biodigesters, October '07 - June '08 (Michigan Technological University, Environmental Engineering) [Profile]

• Carlos Poza: TecoTours & Education Center, January '08 - June '08 (Yale University, Literature and International Studies)
  
• Katie Bliss: Community Outreach, August '07 - May '08 (University of Sussex, UK, BA, Environmental and Development Studies) [Profile]
  
• Corinna Grace: Intern Coordinator, June '07 - May '08 (U. of New South Wales, Sydney - Mechanical Engineering) [Profile]
• Emily Freeh: Accounting, XelaTeco Business Development, September '07 - April '08 (Northwestern University, International Development)
• Liakos Ariston: Ram Pumps, September '07 - March '08 (Johns Hopkins, BS Civil Engineering)
• Beau Baldock: High Efficiency Stoves, Serpentine Solar Hot Water Heater, October '07 - March '08 (Middlebury College, Vermont - History of Art and Architectural Design)
• Anne Romeo: Micro-Hydroelectricity Circuitry, August - December '07 (Cambridge University, Masters in Electrical and Information Engineering)
• Alissa Johnson, Low Cost Solar Hot Water Heater, June - November '07 (U. of California, Berkeley - Material Science and Engineering)
• Blaze Starkey Community Outreach, Eco-building, Summer '07 (Lewis and Clark College)
• Alia Whitney-Johnson, TecoTours, Summer '07 (MIT, Cambidge - Environmental Engineering)
• Kristen Radecsky, Windmills, Summer '07 (Humboldt State University, Arcata - Environmental Resource Engineering) 
• Maarten Graveland, Plug Flow Biodigestors and Serpentine Solar Hot Water Heater, September '06- May '07 (Randmeer College, The Netherlands - Electrical Engineering/Physics)
• Elena Krieger, High Efficiency Stoves, February-June '07 (Harvard University, Cambridge - Physics and Astronomy & Astrophysics)
• Corrado Di Dio, Community Outreach and Assessment, February-June '07 (University of Bologna, Italy - International Studies and Diplomacy)
• Nick Bianchi, XelaTeco Business Development, February-June '07 (MA University of Illinois, Chicago - Urban Planning and Policy)
• Jochen Schloesser, XelaTeco Sales Training & AIDG Customs and Legal Issues, March-May '07 (BS University of Texas at Austin - Dual degree in Finance and Communication Studies) 
• Jesse Engel, April-June '07 (University of California, Berkeley - Physics)

• Megan Brewster, Plastic Recycling, Summer '06 (PhD Material Science and Engineering, MIT)
• Chris Brooks, Hydroelectricity, Summer & Fall '06 (MA Renewable Energy, Murdoch University, Perth, Australia)
• Mollie Chapman, Community Outreach, Fall '06 (BA Anthropology, Stanford University)
• Erin Fried, TecoTours, Summer '06 (MA Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, Tufts University)
• Kelli Horner, Hydroelectricity, Summer '06 (MA Environmental Engineering and Science, Stanford University)
• Ana Maria Madison, Accounting, Summer '06 (MBA, University of Michigan)
• Jeff Miller, Hydroelectricity (BA Mechanical Engineering, University of Technology, Sydney)
• Sylvia Smullin, Plastics Recycling (PhD Physics, Stanford University)
• Margot Rode, Solar Hot Water (BS Civil Engineering, University of Colorado)
• James Russell, Water Filters & Ram Pump (MA Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University)
• Erick Zielke, Hydroelectricity (BS Environmental Resources Engineering, Humboldt University)