Wednesday, August 7, 2024 2589

View all Fort Lewis College news

DURANGO, Colo.— Camille Keith was a first-year Fort Lewis College student when she traveled to Nong Boat, Myanmar, in 2016 with the Village Aid Project. Building a gravity-fed water system for those in need changed her career path, helping her blend her passion for engineering with her desire to help disadvantaged communities. 

"Seeing them have water turned on for the first time was one of the most emotional experiences I’ve had,” recalled Keith, a member of the Navajo Nation who grew up in Shonto, Ariz. “I knew what it was like not having running water growing up. It felt like a connection, and the impact of knowing: This is what I want to do as an engineer—providing basic infrastructure to help communities in need.” 

From Shonto to FLC

Her mother, Eleanor Keith, noted Camille’s early interest in how things work.

“She was a quiet person, but you could tell her mind was going on all the time.”

Eleanor worked long hours away from the reservation, so Camille's grandparents and aunts helped raise her, encouraging her to pursue education and return to support the community.

“That motivated me to come to Fort Lewis,” said Keith, the first in her family to graduate from high school and attend college. “I’m trying to be a role model for the younger generation, showing it's possible to follow your dreams, get your education, and then come back to help your community or other tribal communities in need. There's a lot needed on tribal lands.”

Finding her purpose

Keith said her trip to Myanmar in 2016 opened her eyes to the intersection of engineering and community service.

The Village Aid Project is a faculty-mentored student organization that designs and constructs sustainable water, sanitation, and hygiene systems in remote, underdeveloped areas. Since its inception in 2005, more than 425 students, 75 community partners, and 10 faculty members have volunteered thousands of hours in communities in Ecuador, Laos, Myanmar, Nicaragua, and Thailand.  

A key component of the VAP programs is working with local organizations to ensure the program's sustainability.

“It was great interacting with the villagers. I learned so much from them—their culture, religion, and spirituality. Just being grateful for the simple things, like having water for the first time, was very special,” she said.

After Myanmar, she joined the VAP Solar Initiative—the domestic arm of VAP. Under the mentorship of its director, engineering professor Laurie Williams, Keith gained hands-on experience with solar photovoltaic technology (PV) through internships with Solar Barn Raising in Durango and Grid Alternatives in Northern California. She helped install grid-connected PV systems for the Pa’O Tribe and a PV system at a school located in a Tribal Nation.

Recalling the idea of returning to Shonto, Keith said, "What if we go back to the Navajo Nation?"

The Navajo Nation, the largest Native American reservation in the U.S., covers approximately 27,000 square miles in Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. About 174,000 of the nearly 400,000 enrolled tribal members live on the reservation, and around 55,000 residents lack electricity. The Navajo Nation is organized into 110 chapters –similar to a municipality.

Without electricity—and with supermarkets a couple of hours away—Shonto residents don’t have regular access to fresh fruits and vegetables, which also negatively impacts their health. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that about half of the adult population in the Navajo Nation is either living with type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes.

 

Growing community

In 2023, Keith and Williams co-founded the Navajo Nation Solar Initiative, focusing on the Shonto Chapter. After securing a $100,000 Department of Energy “Energizing Rural Communities” prize, they developed a comprehensive home site assessment database for Shonto.

Gaining community trust was a significant challenge. "It took time and effort, attending meetings and explaining our mission," Keith explained. They also faced practical hurdles like finding local electricians to wire the homes. Despite these challenges, the team installed their first off-grid PV system prototype in March 2023 and four more systems by March 2024.

This summer, Keith and Williams returned to Shonto to provide a three-day, hands-on workshop for families who received the PV systems.

Another First

While the DOE grant expired, Williams said they plan to continue their efforts through the VAP Solar Initiative and other philanthropic efforts.

This year, the FLC Foundation secured funding to support a continuing education role, launching the inaugural post-baccalaureate Marathon Solar Fellowship through donations from generous individuals and a philanthropic grant from Marathon Petroleum Corporation.

“This is a community-guided and supported effort, and we’re grateful for the many generous advocates and our partnership with Marathon Petroleum Corporation to help launch this key position so we can expand the Navajo Nation Solar Initiative. Securing support in the years to come to sustain this fellowship is key to continuing our momentum,” said Melissa Mount, FLC’s Vice President of Advancement and CEO of the FLC Foundation.

As the inaugural fellow, Keith will expand her work with Shonto Tribal Leadership to prioritize future installations.

“We hope to replicate the success in Shonto, which takes a lot of commitment, often more than a volunteer can provide,” Williams said. “The Solar Fellow could also mentor a rising senior to assume the position the following year, ensuring continuity and program sustainability.”

Bright future ahead

For Keith, the position is a dream realized. "I've always dreamed of going back and helping my community. Many families still need access to electricity, which motivates us to continue providing off-grid solar energy."

"I hope others see this and say, ‘I can do that, too,’” she added. “We empower FLC students to return to their Nation and help their tribes.”

Eleanor Keith is proud of her daughter's achievements. She recalled the family's sacrifices for Camille's education and the support for her Myanmar trip. "My mom said, ‘come back and help the people,’ and so she did. We prayed a lot for her, and we’re really proud of her."

Looking ahead, Camille Keith plans to scale up solar system installations. "Our plan is to install off-grid PV systems not just during spring break but also in the fall and possibly expand to summer projects involving FLC alumni and staff."

"I'm excited to see the impact we can make in the Shonto community," she said.

To learn more about the Village Aid Project visit its website: https://www.fortlewis.edu/about-flc/initiatives-partnerships/village-aid-project/village-aid-home.

RELATED: Hands-On Solar Training Illuminates Shonto Community