Impact Spotlight

Solar energy installation for 18 families rural Brazil

Solar powered water treatment systems serving 390 families

Solar technician training for 45 women

About

Founded in 2002, AMPAFOZ is an association of women focused on improving the socioeconomic conditions of riverbank families in their community of PAE Foz do Rio Mazagão, Brazil. The organization primarily works to build productive opportunities within the community and address the lack of services such as energy, water, basic sanitation, and education, especially for women.

PAE Foz do Rio Mazagão is a community of around 390 families with an economy based on artisanal fishing and the extraction of products such as açaí, palm, soursop, cocoa, cupuaçu, taperebá, and banana. Located far from the nearest city, access to basic services is difficult, leaving many families without access to electricity.

“This project is a great example of how powerful energy access can be. The solar installed by AMPAFOZ will not only support the economic livelihoods of families in AE Foz do Rio Mazagão but also create reliable access to the things that keep communities safe and healthy, like access to clean and potable water. Projects like this are why HF continues to fund and advocate for true community-based solar.”

— Kate Trujillo, Deputy Director of the Honnold Foundation

HF Partnership

With HF funding and in partnership with the University of Embrapa, Arizona State University, and others, AMPAFOZ will collaborate with 18 rural families across to the most rural area of PAE Foz do Rio Mazagão to design and install solar panels and water treatment systems. Two additional water systems will be installed for two public schools for community use, pumping water from the river into the tanks to be treated.

Community members will be fully active in the installations, shadowing and participating from the beginning so they can operate and troubleshoot the systems once installed. Water systems will be overseen by community committees that will deliver workshops on how to operate and maintain the systems. Once fully complete, AMPAFOZ will also host exchange workshops with neighboring communities in an effort to expand renewable energy use in the region.