By John Bottenberg | Acting Executive Director, ATC
"Sometimes our light goes out, but is blown again into flame by an encounter with another human being. Each of us owes the deepest thanks to those who have rekindled our inner light."
- Albert Schweitzer
Dear Friend of ATC,
With your support, our Carbon Credit for Humanitarian Solar Power initiative continues to improve daily life for families in rural Guatemala.
Since our last report, we have expanded installations, deepened partnerships, and continued prioritizing households with infants and expectant mothers.
As of December 20, our team has installed solar home lighting systems and clean water filters in 38 homes, bringing safe light and healthier living conditions to families in hard-to-reach areas.
Ripple Effect on Families' Lives
Health: Babies and young children are no longer exposed to kerosene fumes inside the home.
Education: Children now have reliable evening light to read, study, and succeed in school.
Women’s Empowerment: Mothers and young women are using evening hours to weave textiles and prepare goods for market, helping strengthen household income.
Clean Water: Paired water filters reduce illness and improve daily resilience for families.
Stories from the Field
First Light Moments: Families describe joy and relief the first time a bright, safe solar light comes on in their home.
Children at Night: Parents tell us their children now complete homework without smoke or eye irritation from kerosene lamps.
Evening Work by Solar Light: Women are using the reliable evening light to weave cloth and prepare handmade goods, creating new opportunities for small but meaningful income.
Looking Ahead
Expanding to 100 Families: Over the next six months, we aim to install solar and clean-water systems in at least 100 additional homes through partnerships with local leaders and Rotary Clubs.
Training and Local Skills: We plan to expand solar education so more youth and women gain hands-on technical experience and long-term confidence with system maintenance.
Sustaining Momentum: Each new installation brings families greater health, resilience, and hope while steadily lowering carbon emissions.
Your generosity makes this progress possible. Together, we are building a future where families thrive and carbon emissions fall - a legacy of light that will last for decades.
With gratitude,
John Bottenberg
Acting Executive Director
The Appropriate Technology Collaborative
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
