News > From the Field

November 2009

• Over the past year the sales of wood burning stoves have been challenging due to the economy. In response to this, we redesigned the stove, retrained masons, and recently completed a village marketing push. As a result, entrepreneurs have recently sold 101 stoves in two remote communities in the Quiche region. This equates to 1,000 people who now no longer cook on the floor. The individuals in these communities have no electricity and have ordered 100 solar panels and lights as well. We will be delivering these in January 2010.

September 2009

• One of the first trained entrepreneurs in 2004, Clara Luz Cho Montezuma, has earned a professional reputation in her community as a knowledgeable leader capable of providing solutions to local needs.  She was nominated and subsequently recognized as a Ciudadana Distinguida y Lider Comunitario (Distinguished Citizen and Community Leader) with a ceremony held in her honor in La Libertad, a small community of approximately 1,500 people, in September of 2009.  She is now a regional coordinator and part owner of Soluciones Comunitarias.

August 2009

• Soluciones Comunitarias is now fully owned and run by local Guatemalans who have earned equity through their hard work and demonstrated passion for our mission
• Guatemalans have taken over as regional coordinators for expatriate staff in four of six regions

January 2009

• Juana Xoch Ibate, trained as an entrepreneur in 2004, now holds the regional coordinator position for the Sololá region.  Juana's personal story is inspirational. She spent long stints working in Guatemala City as a child and has a vivid memory of buying her first pair of shoes at age 13. She rebuilt her home and served her remote community voluntarily following Hurricane Stan in 2005.  She left a position as a leader of a local women's weaving group to become regional coordinator in 2009 and is currently an owner of Soluciones Comunitarias. She receives a set monthly salary and health insurance, a benefit not afforded with her previous employer and extremely rare in Guatemala.  While managing regional responsibilities with Soluciones Comunitarias Juana also has the opportunity to continue to support the women's weaving group.

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