The Appropriate Technology Collaborative

🌞 Today is GlobalGiving's July Bonus Day, and we have exciting news from Guatemala!

Since July 2025, ATC's Mayan Power and Light program has reached 76 families with solar home lighting systems and ceramic water filters to our goal of 100 by the end of July 2026.

This week, ATC's retired founder, John Barrie, is in Guatemala working alongside Rubén, our project lead, and local community partners. Together they're installing solar home lighting systems, visiting families, and advancing the next generation of ATC's solar dehydrator technology.

❤️ Every installation brings more than light.

Reliable solar lighting allows children to study after sunset and gives mothers dependable light to continue weaving, sewing, and other income-generating work in the evenings.

Ceramic water filters provide safe drinking water, helping reduce waterborne illness and improve family health.

We're also excited that another 12 installations are scheduled by July 26, bringing us within just 12 homes of our current goal of reaching 100 families.

If you've ever considered supporting ATC, today is one of the best days of the year to make your gift go further. During GlobalGiving's July Bonus Day, eligible donations can help Mayan Power and Light receive additional incentive funding.

👉 Support Mayan Power and Light
https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/solar-women-of-guatemala-education-and-business/

📖 Read our latest progress report
https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/solar-women-of-guatemala-education-and-business/reports/

Thank you for standing with the families we serve in rural Guatemala. Together, we're bringing reliable light, clean water, and new opportunities—one home at a time.

This Wednesday!

John Barrie is retiring from ATC!
Please join us on December 3 to celebrate and for ATC's annual fundraiser!

Event info: https://lnkd.in/gVRdNDqN

December 3, 2025 5:30 - 8:30 pm

The Back Office Studio
13 North Washington St
Ypsilanti, MI 48197

In 2009, after meticulously building and installing our own solar home systems we purchased ~600 very robust pre made solar kits. Our ATC made kits lasted 7 years before needing new batteries but many of the kits we ordered in 2010 are still working! We tested over 30 samples to get to the kits we now use. Photos: Installation of one of our first solar panels and a photo of one of our solar lights from our first bulk purchase that is still working after 14 years!

👉 Follow us to see how solar power is transforming lives in Guatemala!

We started teaching solar in 2009. Over time we started to have woman only classes which attracted a lot more women to our STEM intensive program. This class is from 2012 in Santa Cruz la Laguna at the CECAP trade school. The teacher is Carlos Alverez, a gifted electronics teacher.

Our new dehydrators will be delivered to an organic farming coop on Saturday. The coop has experience working with our past dehydrators and they have their own special recipes for things like granola bars.