By John Bottenberg | Acting Executive Director, ATC
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
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