Plenty International Belize Limited (Plenty Belize), is a registered NGO, whose mission is ?Working together for the sustainable development of the people and environment of the Toledo District, using a community-based approach?. Plenty Belize has garnered a lot of experience working with villages to install basic utilities and services, with the most applicable to this project being two related projects with Barefoot College and GEF SGP in Santa Teresa and Santa Elena., as well as helping Graham Creek to set up a water board. Other experience includes having installed solar energy systems in three remote rural schools, established a solar internet café in San Benito Poite, and provided solar power to residents of San Jose. Plenty Belize has helped to establish local boards for village utility management. Plenty Belize will supervise project implementation, accounting and reporting. The project activities will be implemented in conjunction with BPCL,the villages of Graham Creek and Machakil Ha, two Mayan communities without road access where the principal activity is subsistence farming. (Note: Advocacy for road construction to Machakilha to be completed is ongoing. Road is currently ~50% complete.)

Solar power boards established in both communities.

The project will install a prominent sign in each community. An inauguration ceremony for the project will be held. Dignitaries from Department of Rural Development and other agencies, the media, and others will be invited. In addition, t-shirts for the two power boards, BPCL members, and key persons promoting the solar system will be produced. Although this project focuses on these two most remote villages, BPCL will be reaching out to 10 villages in total to share knowledge. As part of the educational outreach, a presentation will be designed and made in three language versions ? English, Ketchi, and Mopan.

This project goes beyond gender mainstreaming, and actively supports women in non-traditional roles. As empowered women, each Barefoot Engineer is a powerful role model for the young Mayan women of Toledo and beyond. All publicity about the project will feature the women engineers, as will the work being done. All activities of the project will target men and women in an equitable manner. Solar electrification in the homes will benefit all family members. All primary and high school students will be able to complete their homework assignments and study for their classes in a more suitable environment. In this project, equal opportunities exist for men and for women to increase their capacity and to benefit from solar energy. The Power Board has a commitment for equal representation of women and men, and currently is dominated with women. The three female engineers will train at least one female assistant technician each, and can also train others for a position that will be available for men or women.