Doña Luz - Solar Mamas Stories from Latin America : Catarina

INTRODUCTION - The Barefoot College International is bringing solar light to the most remote communities of the world by selecting and empowering local women to become Solar Engineers. These one or two women will travel from their village to India, following a 6-month training, leaving everything behind to bring back light to every house of their village. The Barefoot College sent French and Canadian photographer and filmmaker Varial* to document the lives of 15 indigenous women from 5 countries in Latin America throughout the electrification process: preparing to leave for this incredible journey, a 6-month training period in India, returning to their communities and electrifying more than 100 homes. The majority of the communities are indigenous, and several have survived persecution and genocide, with the majority of survivors currently living an impoverished existence. 

The deafening, never-ending sound of a motor wakes me up with a jolt. It can’t be any later than 4:30 in the morning, I think, judging by the star-filled sky. At 6 am sharp, Francisco comes to wake me up.

“Francisco, what’s that noise?”