Solar Midwives and Families

ATC successfully completed its goal of 70 solar home units and water filter installations in early July 2025.  Since then, we established a new goal of helping an additional 100 families, and we have completed an additional 25 installs towards this goal across rural Guatemala.

These installations were led by Rubén Mata (Solar Project Manager) and Keila (Water Filter Manager) in partnership with the ACTOCHI Midwives Association. Each installation delivers reliable solar lighting and clean drinking water to families who previously relied on candles or kerosene lamps. These systems dramatically improve safety, reduce respiratory illness, and empower women and midwives to work safely at night. Many of the families we serve live in remote villages and have seldom traveled beyond their immediate surroundings. Most depend on seasonal day labor in crops like cardamom, corn, or beans, with limited income outside the harvest season. With access to solar lighting, families can now take on evening work or start small home-based income projects—opportunities that simply didn’t exist before. Several women have shared that they are now able to weave traditional Mayan fabrics at night to sell in the market, generating much-needed income for their households.

Key Highlights

• 25 new solar home systems and ceramic water filters installed

• Families report reduced fuel costs and improved nighttime safety

• Midwives now deliver babies under safe, consistent solar light

• Locally made ceramic filters provide lasting clean water access

• Community partners helping to identify the next 75 households

Looking Ahead

Our team is preparing for the next phase of installations, focusing on the most remote households identified by ACTOCHI. Founder John Barrie plans to return to Guatemala in 2026 to support expansion and conduct site evaluations.

ATC remains committed to community-driven solutions that combine renewable energy, health, and education. Each light we install continues to shine as a symbol of partnership and progress.

Next Milestones

• Continue installations through Fall 2025 (target: 25 additional homes)

• Evaluate system performance and family impact

• Plan educational programs on solar maintenance and women’s entrepreneurship

Your continued support helps make this transformation possible—lighting homes, improving health, and powering futures.

John Bottenberg
Acting Executive Director
The Appropriate Technology Collaborative

Links:

• The Appropriate Technology Collaborative Home Page

In the months since our last update, the Appropriate Technology Collaborative (ATC) has continued to reach deep into the heart of rural Guatemala—delivering life-changing Solar Home Systems and water filters to families served by traditional midwives.

Thanks to the unwavering efforts of our team—Ruben (Solar Project Manager), Keila (Water Filter Manager and Teacher), and our community partners at ACTOCHI Midwives—we are finishing up the installation of 70 new Solar Home Systems and ceramic water filters (locally made in Guatemala), bringing clean light and water to some of the most underserved households in the region. These systems not only provide light but extend the working hours of families and dramatically improve nighttime safety and health—especially during childbirth.

With this milestone behind us, we are now launching the next phase of our project: The installation of 100 additional Solar Home Systems and water filters over the next year. These filters, crafted locally in Guatemala, are a testament to the power of sustainable, community-driven design. Keila continues to train families on proper filter maintenance to ensure lasting benefit.

We are also pleased to share that we’ve received a fresh shipment of Solar Home Systems from our Guatemalan partner, Casa Thermal. These systems are ready for deployment as part of our expanding program. And in July, our Founder and Chief Innovation Officer, John Barrie, will return to Guatemala to help kick off this new phase. During his visit, he will also work to expand our educational programming by collaborating with nonprofit women’s groups using ATC's STEM education kits.

This work continues to be a joint effort rooted in trust, tradition, and innovation. From sacred Mayan ceremonies honoring the gift of light to new opportunities for income and education, the impact of your support is profound and growing.

Many of the families we serve live in remote villages and have seldom traveled beyond their immediate surroundings. Most depend on seasonal day labor in crops like cardamom, corn, or beans, with limited income outside the harvest season. With access to solar lighting, families can now take on evening work or start small home-based income projects—opportunities that simply didn’t exist before. Several women have shared that they are now able to weave traditional Mayan fabrics at night to sell in the market, generating much-needed income for their households.

John Barrie reflects: "Over the past two decades, I’ve worked to bring solar power and sustainable technologies to rural families. But these last few months stand out as both the most challenging and the most rewarding. We are now reaching households so remote they may never receive another form of outside support. When we arrive, we bring more than just light—we bring safety and dignity. Expectant families, especially, benefit tremendously. As the midwives have told us, delivering babies under the steady glow of solar light is a world away from the risks of candlelight or flashlights."

We remain deeply grateful for your belief in community-led change. Your support doesn’t just power lights—it powers futures.

With deep appreciation,

John Bottenberg

Acting Executive Director, The Appropriate Technology Collaborative (ATC)