Linebacker Connor Barwin returned to Haiti with NRG to install solar panels, but learned much more on his journey ...
Linebacker Connor Barwin traveled to Haiti along with NRG Energy to install solar panels at a maternity clinic and an orphanage
Barwin was inspired by the people he met in Haiti
This is not Barwin's first trip to Haiti with NRG Energy. He was there last year as well
Barwin turns into a big kid in Haiti
In Haiti, roughly one out of every 10 people have limited access to electricity
The solar panels at the maternity clinic will allow mothers to give birth at night in a safe, clean facility
Barwin brought the "guns" with him to Haiti
Barwin had no trouble tossing offensive tackles aside last season, so what's picking up a child?
This is no PR stunt. Barwin was there in Haiti to work
NRG Energy assembled this all-volunteer group for the trip
The work done last week will allow this light switch to illuminate the room
A group photo of the NRG Energy team in Haiti
Barwin spent time to see what life was like around the island
You never see images like this of Haiti on the news
To the kids, Barwin wasn't a superstar athlete. Just someone lending a hand to help make their lives better
A truly majestic view
Even those who have access to the grid can only access electricity for a few hours each day
The children were happy and the volunteers were grateful to be a part of something so special
The culture of Haiti
Work hard, play hard
Solar panels allow for cleaner fuel instead of relying on dirty, diesel fuel
NRG has also built solar panels for schools and hospitals in Haiti
There are areas of Haiti still recovering from the 2010 earthquake
Barwin said that the trip has allowed him to now put all of his energy and focus into football
Just like on the football field, it's a team effort in Haiti
NRG's also left its mark on Lincoln Financial Field with over 11,000 solar panels
Barwin incorporates sustainability in his personal life as well
NRG has trained natives of Haiti to install solar panels so they can continue to develop the program
The finished product
A look at where the energy harnessed by the solar panels is stored
Packing for what has become my annual offseason trip to Haiti with NRG was a bit easier this year.
Sunscreen, check.
Flashlight, check.
Bug spray, double check.
Although I would be spending the next week in the Caribbean, I could leave the linen pants and sandals home. This week was not about rest and relaxation.
The sound of a rooster crowing at the break of dawn, the tropical sun beating down on your back, the smiles of children running through the street - the stimulation on this tiny Caribbean island is endless. It almost makes you forget that you are in the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. The sensory overload can be a lot to handle, but it pales in comparison to the emotional effects. Each waking hour you are pushed from one end of the emotional spectrum to the other. Absolute joy one moment, crushing sadness the next. Immense sympathy for the struggle of those still recovering from the quake of 2010, to anger and frustration at the lack of progress and organization. From feeling inadequate with what you've done with your life, to the satisfaction of knowing you put in a good day's work here. Every hour it was a conversation with yourself; how you feel vs. how you think you should feel.
After taking some time to reflect on this trip, the one thing that stands out is the feeling of inspiration I had as I left Haiti. Inspired to try and help Haiti, inspired to do more in my personal life, inspired to be a better football player, inspired to be a better person.
Led by Christine Avots and an all-volunteer team from NRG, I was part of the solar panel installation team at the Medishare Maternity Clinic in the Central Plateau and an orphanage in Kenscoff. Solar energy is critical in Haiti. Only 10 percent of the country is connected to the grid. Those connected get three to four hours of electricity a day. This is unimaginable to many of us, yet it's a reality in Haiti. NRG is working to change that.
Thanks to NRG, now when the sun goes down, women will be able to go to the Medishare Maternity Clinic and deliver their babies in a clean, safe environment with trained medical professionals. In Kenscoff, where 400 kids live and 800 are educated every day, not only will these solar panels keep the facility running at night, but they will reduce the school's dependence on dirty diesel-run generators. The money saved can go toward other necessities. NRG has started hiring and training locals to install the solar panels. This created a couple bumps in the road because of the language barrier, but bringing real progress will require empowering Haitians. There needs to be a sustainable model in place that will last long after all the non-governmental organizations and missionaries are gone.
It's an incredible honor to be a part of this project, to have met such an amazing group of passionate and inspiring people. I have always tried to do my part personally when it comes to sustainability, whether it's something small like riding my bike to work, or something bigger, like starting the MTWB Foundation. Experiencing the kind of impact that is possible working with an organization like NRG Energy really shows we can make people's lives better. We can fix problems that we think are not fixable.
I can't thank everyone at NRG enough for bringing me back to this beautiful island called Haiti. As I get back into football mode the memories and experiences I had will continue to inspire me every day. As I step into Lincoln Financial Field, it only seems fitting to play in a stadium where NRG has installed more than 11,000 solar panels. That warm summer sun can't get here soon enough.
To learn more about NRG Energy's work in Haiti, visit Harnessing Haiti’s power.
