NIST is located in the heart of Bangkok, a diverse community in such a concentrated urban area. In this vast sea of different beliefs and culture, we all share four main values: Integrity, Compassion, Community, and Growth. NIST is an active stimulant of development and has constantly spearheaded projects in different communities. In school, we are educated about issues that undermine global development. However, as a small group of friends who grew up in a metropolitan environment, we never got to experience these matters first hand. Last year we visited a small rural Cambodian Village on the outskirts of Siem-Reap, the Knapor Village. Although it may seem like a Cambodian tourist sight, the citizens of the village currently struggle with access to basic necessities like energy, education, and transportation. Our initial intentions were to work on other projects; however, after witnessing the prevalence of such issues, we were yearned an opportunity to create a difference. Although we wanted to start an initiative that would produce global impact, we realized that such change is produced over time. Considering that our aspirations resonated with the NIST community’s values, we decided to start working toward urban sustainability in a community closest to us, our school. Our initiative was able to raise capital and secure subsidies for 80 PV solar panels. In installing these panels at our school, we also provide many educational opportunities for students considering study in a related field or are simply interested, which may inspire and precipitate similar projects in the future. As pioneers for a sustainable future, we aim to expand our project within our campus and beyond. We have future prospects for transforming the Knapor community, NIST community, and the Bangkok community into a solar driven area. We hope others follow us in working toward a Solar Generation.
