Mayan Power and Light

March 2025

In the past four months we have distributed more solar power and water filters to rural families with young children than we have ever done so in the past. Ruben, (solar project manager), Keila, (water filter manager and teacher) Erika (head of the ACTOCHI Midwives) and several volunteers over the past few months have been working overtime to get solar power out to the most remote villages in central Guatemala.

• Emergency Note: With USAID funds stopped our collaborative partners who are critical to our success have had to drastically cut their programs or completely stop and lay off staff. We need extra funding to continue our programs, To be clear, ATC and Mayan Power and Light do not receive money directly from USAID. Please help Mayan Power and Light, donate at https://bit.ly/MPL_GG

I was in Guatemala for most of December and January. I was scheduled to leave in mid January when I received a call from Erika Yax, director of ACTOCHI, stating that two remote villages would like to host a celebration of their solar lights. I rescheduled my flight in order to join the celebration. Our team, the midwives from ACTOCHI, Ruben, Keila, Ruben and Keila’s kids all joined everyone from the villages in two heartfelt ceremonies.

The ceremonies were held in homes of two of the families who received solar power and water filters. The floors of the homes were covered in long pine needles, a Mayan tradition for deeply meaningful rituals such as Easter week. This was an honor we will never forget. People expressed how their lives had already changed in the weeks since they received solar. They expressed new optimism for their children’s futures. The midwives noted how this program strengthens the communities they serve. Several women spoke about how they can now work a few extra hours in the evenings to weave traditional Mayan fabrics to sell in the market.

I’ve worked about 20 years getting solar power and other technologies to rural families and the past four months have been the most challenging and the most rewarding of my career. We are now working with families where we, ATC and the midwives with ACTOCHI are the only intervention these families will see in their lifetimes. We bring the gift of light and clean water, often to families who are about to have babies. This work is so important. The midwives say delivering babies by candle light or by flashlight is simply not as safe as delivering babies by solar lights.

Keila teaches how to take care of our long-life water filters. With proper maintenance the filters should last several years. Also, the filters are made in Guatemala so spare parts are locally available.

Many of the men work as day laborers in cardamom, corn and bean fields. Money is only available during the harvest times. Now families can take on some work in the evenings and they can earn a few extra dollars every week. This money combined with money saved because families no longer need to purchase candles to see at night are big changes. Families spend their extra funds on first, better food for their children and second, School supplies including shoes for their children.

I wish each of you could have been at the ceremonies. This was a deep honor that I will never forget.

You make this possible and from everyone who we’ve worked with and the families we serve, a sincere thank you.

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