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Barefoot College Latin America and New Sun Road – Guatemala
The collaboration between Barefoot College Latin America and New Sun Road, two Focus Central America partners, is creating new opportunities for remote communities in Guatemala through solar energy, technical training, and women’s leadership.
Both organizations share the mission of democratizing, decentralizing, and demystifying solar energy. As part of this partnership, in November and December 2025 they visited 19 communities in Quiché and Huehuetenango, where New Sun Road operates Community Digital Centers that provide internet access and technology training programs in areas with limited opportunities.
During these visits and community meetings, the selection process for Barefoot College’s Solar Program was carried out. Through this initiative, 7 women took part in an intensive 10-week training program between January and March 2026 at the training center in Batzul, Chajul, Quiché, where they learned to assemble, install, maintain, and repair solar systems.
In addition to technical training, the participants completed the ENRICH Program, a comprehensive curriculum that includes topics such as social equity, health and well-being, digital and financial skills, entrepreneurship, and sustainable livelihoods.
This collaboration not only strengthens individual capacities, but also opens new possibilities for the communities where New Sun Road works. By training women as solar engineers, it promotes a more sustainable model of community energy management while also generating income, economic autonomy, and local resilience.
On March 31, 2026, 7 women from the Chuj and Q’eqchi’ peoples of Huehuetenango, Quiché, and Alta Verapaz graduated as solar engineers, ready to bring light, knowledge, and new opportunities to their communities.