Mayan Power and Light catalyzes local, green economies by empowering community leaders with entrepreneurship training and energy saving technologies for social and environmental regeneration. Since 2013, we have installed solar on over 21 community buildings reaching 36,800 people, we trained 150 women in business skills and taught over 600 people hands-on solar power basics.
For many women in Guatemala, the pandemic has meant no job and no unemployment benefits or other protection. Mayan women face even higher obstacles to overcoming poverty due to gender-based discrimination, social norms, disproportionate involvement in unpaid work, and unequal access to education, healthcare, and property (ILO, 2019). Energy poverty, contaminated water and deforestation are major concerns for this group where an alarming 75% live in poverty.
MPL promotes environmental solutions to poverty led by women, breaking gender norms about technology, business and leadership. The program integrates major concerns like cost of electricity, waterborne diseases and deforestation by making the solution available for low-income people. We raise awareness and access to simple, appropriate technologies that improve health and help people break out of poverty. STEM-rich workshops, business coaching and solar installations prepares us for the future.
Green technologies like water filters and solar power will be available to everyone, improving public health and reducing pressure on the environment. Encouraging small business and women's economic participation in rural areas will improve the next generation's health and educational achievements. Local producers and consumers improves local economic resiliency in the face of increasing natural crises.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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