The story begins when the lights come on for the first time. For many rural communities, electric service doesn’t always come with knowing how to use it to generate income.
It is important to go beyond turning on that light switch. To help these communities, we implement productive uses of electricity (PUE) programs that help support farmers and entrepreneurs establish grain mills, coffee processing operations, milk chilling facilities, sundry shops, restaurants and much more.
Success doesn’t happen overnight, but the changes are monumental. Here are a few success stories over the years that show how your support has helped communities everywhere keep the lights on. Many have benefitted from the work of our volunteers, donors and partners.
GUATEMALA
Since 2012, electric co-ops from 16 states have helped bring power to about 12,650 people living in the country’s isolated mountain villages. This Western region is known for its coffee farms, its beauty and very rugged terrain. Since then, we have visited a few communities to see first-hand how electricity has made their lives better and happier.
Las Cuevas
In 2017, we spent time with the Villatoro family in Las Cuevas, a village tucked in the mountains in Western Guatemala. Merly Villatoro talked about her family store, her business, and how popular items were not possible before electricity. When power lines were connected to her house, she bought a refrigerator.
“I sell ice cream, frozen chocolate covered fruit, soda, cheese and frozen meat,” Merly told us.
An electric grinding mill also helps Merly grind corn in just 15 minutes, a huge improvement from a daily chore that took hours.
Agua Dulce
In 2022, we met Patricia Méndez, a second-generation coffee farmer in Agua Dulce. She saw a very significant change in her community over the 10 years since electricity arrived.
“International companies have come and shown interest in Agua Dulce. Starbucks, from the United States, became interested in the coffee from this region,” said Méndez. “Starbucks is training our farmers, teaching new techniques to ensure proper processing. All of this has been made possible because electricity came to the area.”
UGANDA
Kyegegwa
In December 2021, NRECA International trained 10 entrepreneurs in the Kyegegwa Rural Electricity Cooperative Society (KRECS) through a PUE program. The training focused on equipping business owners and farmers with skills to adopt electrical machinery, boost productivity, reduce fuel costs, and enhance income.
Muhangi Rubeen, a milk supplier immediately benefitted from the electricity and training. He started by saving 20% on operational costs by transitioning to solar electricity and expanded his business to produce yogurt.
LIBERIA
Totota
In 2018, NRECA International helped establish the Totota Electric Cooperative (TEC) with the help of contributions and volunteer lineworkers from America’s electric co-ops. In 2021, we established a loan program managed by TEC to support local entrepreneurs, especially women, grow their business, improve their lives and contribute to the economic growth of their community.
Joanna Kollie, owner of the Quopolu Frozen Food Family Business Center, applied and received a loan to purchase a freezer. She expanded her business and became the largest electricity consumer for TEC.
ZAMBIA
Ntatumbila
In 2023, through the Zambia Electric Cooperative Development Program funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development, NRECA International team helped establish Ntatumbila Power Electric Cooperative in Zambia. Families will be able to turn the lights on within the next month, and a PUE program is currently being implemented to teach the community how to use electricity to generate income, and help the co-op establish a PUE loan program. Their story is just beginning.
THE WORK CONTINUES
Earlier this year, many of our volunteer co-op lineworkers worked side by side with community members in Guatemala to build power lines that brought electricity to their homes for the first time. This is a cause for celebration, but it’s just the beginning! Join us to make sure that these communities can continue to keep the lights on.