Sarah Azau, EWEA’s very own Senior Communication Officer, is putting herself to the test on 29 May when she’ll take on the challenge of the Brussels 20km half-marathon to raise money for Renewable World.

Renewable World – EWEA’s chosen charity – works to bring renewable energy to small, energy-poor communities in developing countries that may never have had electricity before. Pumping clean water, powering homes, schools and health centres and running small businesses in a sustainable way are the main achievements of the charity’s projects.

Sarah’s decision to run the half-marathon was prompted by a visit to a Renewable World project in Nicaragua. Last year she visited an isolated, very poor village that had never had electricity. The villagers showed her how now – thanks to a wind turbine organised by Renewable World – they have power for light bulbs, radios – and hopefully soon a fridge to keep medicine cool. Before the arrival of the turbine they used dangerous smoking paraffin lamps and the only way to get water was by dragging it up to the village in buckets. Read more about the project in Wind Directions magazine here.

Belgium may have a reputation for being a flat country, but Brussels with its long inclines is certainly an exception as Sarah has been finding out. She is now in the final stages of her training and is looking forward to the road ahead.

“I am thrilled to be able to take on this challenge for a charity that supports renewable energy for the world’s poorer communities,” she said. If you would like to support Sarah, please visit her sponsorship page here.

EWEA’s recent €9,000 donation – one Euro for every attendee of the EWEA 2011 Annual Event  – to Renewable World will go towards the installation of a 1kW wind turbine, alongside 200w solar PV panels in Mipandi, Mozambique. The project will allow 5,500 litres of water per day to be pumped to community which will then use the water to irrigate agricultural land improving yields and, critically, enabling out-of-season harvests. Read more about this project here and return to this blog for updates soon.