This project will bring community owned solar power to 500 people in a remote area of Northwestern Guatemala, providing light for work and study and other benefits that will contribute to the integral development of the community without polluting the environment.
The people of Blanca Flor are farmers who mainly grow coffee, cardamom, and bananas, often starting their day at 3 am. For light, they use hand-made gas lamps, candles or pine pitch. For social or ceremonial gatherings they rent a generator, which is expensive and has to be transported from 2 hours away. The women grind corn by hand to make flour--heavy, time-consuming work. And children do their school work at night by the weak light of a candle or tiny lamp, affecting their ability to learn.
The purchase and installation of 55 solar panels would save the people of Blanca Flor time and money while increasing their ability to carry out their agricultural, domestic, social, cultural, religious and educational activities. This project will also protect the environment and reduce greenhouse gases. In addition, reliable low-cost electricity would allow for the refrigeration of food and medicine, improving community health.
Reliable, low-cost electricity could improve the health, education and physical and financial well-being of all members of this community. The money and time that members are currently using to pay for energy could be invested in other long-term development projects. This project would also allow Blanca Flor to become a resource and reference for nearby communities contributing to their economic well-being as well.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).