Mayan Power and Light

Dear Wonderful Supporters,

I wish you could be here.  You can feel how essential the work you make possible is. 

Thank you for your generous contributions to Mayan Power and Light’s mission. With your help, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of families in remote rural areas of Guatemala through our *Bright Christmas* campaign. This initiative, supported by donations from individuals like you, as well as funding from Project Nightfall Philanthropy and the Rotary Club of Ann Arbor, aims to install solar power and provide water filters to families in need before Christmas.

Addressing Critical Needs in Remote Communities:

Reaching the homes of families with newborns or young children presents difficult logistical challenges. These communities, located in the highlands near Comalapa and Chimaltenango, lack basic infrastructure such as electricity and clean water. To identify families in need, we work with the 55 midwives of Asociación Civil de Comadronas Tradicionales de Chimaltenango (ACOTCHI), who have deep roots in these communities. For many families, our intervention represents the first—and often only—support they have ever received.

Solar Power: Lighting Homes and Reducing Costs:

The solar kits we provide are durable and efficient, incorporating lessons learned when we won the American-Made Solar Prize. Solar power transforms these households, enabling families to replace costly candles and kerosene lamps with clean, reliable lighting. This not only improves indoor air quality, reducing respiratory risks, but also allows families to redirect money previously spent on candles and kerosene toward essentials like food and education.

Clean Water: Breaking the Cycle of Disease and Stunting:

We pair each solar installation with a water filter to address the region’s high rates of waterborne illness. Contaminated water is a leading cause of diarrheal diseases, which are responsible for significant childhood mortality in Guatemala. Chronic exposure to these illnesses also contributes to stunting, a condition affecting over 50% of Guatemalan children. Stunted children face lifelong challenges, including impaired cognitive development and reduced earning potential, perpetuating cycles of poverty. Water filters reduce these risks, providing families with immediate health benefits and long-term opportunities for growth and development.

The Week Ahead!

Starting tomorrow, we will purchase and begin deploying 70 solar kits and water filters for families identified by ACOTCHI. These kits, sourced from a new vendor in Guatemala, offer cost savings by reducing shipping expenses through bulk purchasing.

• Monday (11/18):** Purchase 70 solar kits.
• Tuesday (11/19):** Collect water filters for all 70 homes.
• Wednesday (11/20):** Depart Jocotenango at 3:30 AM for Comalapa. A professional film crew will document the installations, and we will work alongside ACOTCHI midwives to install the systems, spending additional time at each home to teach families how to maintain their solar and water filter systems.
• Thursday (11/21):** Conduct a debrief at ATC to review progress.
• Friday (11/22):** Meet with ACOTCHI midwives to map out the next phase of installations.

Your Impact:

Thanks to your support, approximately 390 children and 140 adults will receive life-changing access to clean water and electricity this holiday season. These improvements will provide brighter futures for families by enhancing health, reducing financial burdens, and creating opportunities for education and economic mobility.

On behalf of the families we serve, thank you for helping us deliver light, health, and hope to Guatemala’s most underserved communities.

With gratitude,
The Mayan Power and Light Team