Impact Spotlight

Solarizing two schools, improving education access and supporting economic growth for over 2500 people

Environmental stewardship training for Indigenous leaders across 6 Mayan communities

Solar powered batteries, lights, and streetlights for 100 families

About

In Guatemala, the Indigenous communities living around the Lake Atitlán watershed disproportionately experience the impacts of environmental degradation. Local agriculture and fishing economies are drying up along with the watershed. Moreover, the region has an unreliable, unsustainable electric grid, leading to frequent power outages for those who have access to energy in the first place. Residents have an average income of $1.20/day, making access to electricity unaffordable for most community members.

Natün Guatemala is a Mayan-led organization that uses community-centered initiatives to improve local educational, nutritional, health, and economic development. As an organization made up of individuals from the community, they promote Indigenous leadership, rights, and capacity alongside local Indigenous leadership councils. With over a decade of work in their community, Natün continues to co-design all of their projects with the communities they serve.

“Through my life experience and walking alongside Indigenous communities, I know the reality in which we live - the large inequality gaps, lack of opportunities, deficiencies in basic health services, education, housing, food. I am aware of the great challenges that exist. As part of the Natün family, I align with the vision and mission with motivation and commitment to contribute and generate significant changes in the diverse Indigenous communities of Solola.”

— Ana Cumatz, Co-Executive Director

HF Partnership

In 2023, with the Honnold Foundation’s support, installed two battery-backed hybrid solar systems for Tierra Linda and El Barranco preschools, and a hybrid system with battery backup in the main office in Panajachel. Together, we also brought street lights to these communities, increasing communities’ safety and security at night.

In 2025, the Honnold Foundation is launching a multi-year partnership with Natün to expand on this work. With additional support, Natün will build on the environmental initiatives they launched with previous HF funding and address urgent priorities such as sustainable waste management and water source protection. Funding will support organizational strengthening, staff capacity building, and Indigenous leadership development.