Food Security Guatemala Project #29146

Solar Fruit Dehydrators for MicroEntrepreneurs

by Appropriate Technology Collaborative

Solar Fruit Dehydrators for MicroEntrepreneurs

Summary

In western Guatemala, 48% of children are chronically malnourished. In early childhood, nutrition is a critical element for physical growth, brain development, and immune strength. Generational poverty is a major challenge when acquiring food; parents suffer from high unemployment, lack of education, and low income. ATC works directly with small farm family cooperatives to link sustainable, innovative technologies to improve quality of life. Dehydrators create year-round income and nutrition.

$24,000
total goal

$3,942
remaining

45
donors

0
monthly donors

2
fundraisers

6
years

Challenge

High malnutrition rates, unemployment, limited financial education, and competition with corporations trap small farmers in Guatemala in cyclical poverty. Agricultural sales are limited to harvest season, leaving families without income and proper food for much of the year. The lack of nutrition not only contributes to stunted growth but is also responsible for half the deaths of Guatemalan children under age 5. These children never get a chance to reach their full potential and escape poverty.

Solution

In the highlands of Guatemala, cooperatives of rural youth, women, and other small farmers share ATC dehydrators to create their own economic opportunities. Our simple dehydrator design uses attainable, local materials to capture solar power, channeling hot air through a drying chamber. It preserves herbs, fruits, vegetables, and meats. This food is then used to supplement a family's nutrition year-round and is sold for supplemental income.

Long-Term Impact

This project aims for sustainable long-term change. In 2024, we'll prototype and distribute an improved solar dehydrator to boost produce availability and income in Western Guatemala. Cooperatives with solar dehydrators earn extra income and additional food with minimal labor. Year-round access to nutrient-rich produce, crucial for young children and expectant mothers, becomes a building block for healthy futures, offering families a chance to escape poverty.