Yesterday I spent some quality time with a group of Students organizing their local chapter of an NGO from Chile called Un Techo Para Mi Pais. I learned a lot from these guys.
The NGO organizes fundraisers to sponsor a community of new houses for people who cannot typically afford the houses. They offer these houses to people who then get microfinanced through a local bank.
Some Numbers:
- Average family income Q8/day ($1/day)
- Average family size 5-6
- Size of house 10' x 20'
- Utilities installed NONE
- Total cost to the new owner $150
- Cost to build the house $1,500- Funding bank in Guatemala Banural (The same that microfinances Quetsol)
- Number of homes completed +1,600
- Number of Volunteers +10,000
- Total amount for next fundraiser $150,000
I actually spent a lot of time with these guys. They were filming a commercial to advertise their local fundraiser coming up next week. I got to be in the commercial which will run all over Guatemala for a while. That is the 6th time I have been on TV in Guatemala with an NGO! I should start charging for autographs, jajajajajajaa.
These guys had no immediate interest to put light in homes. They always assumed it required a grid connection or very expensive solar equipment. Once I pitched to them it would be an extra $100 or less, they seemed very very interested. I am assuming we will find this a lot.
Price is a major factor with this new technology. People have been really scared of solar because for the past 50 years in its existence, it has been unaffordable. Now that we might be able to change their minds, we can start a global change to renewable energy.
What a better way to introduce electricity to an area than to start them out with renewable energy.
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