Harrison REMC Lineman Steve Saltsgaver and 15 Indiana electric cooperative lineworkers traveled to Guatemala in late January as part of an international initiative to bring electricity to a developing area in Guatemala.

“Project Indiana: Empowering Global Communities for a Better Tomorrow” brings electricity to a part of the Central American country where none is available. The crew spent Jan. 29 through Feb. 15 extending electric infrastructure in the village of Palmira, a mountainous area along the western edge of Guatemala. When completed, 197 homes had electricity for the first time as crews installed two lightbulbs and three plugs in each home. Saltsgaver stated, “Being able to provide power to someone who has never had it was such a humbling experience. The people in the village were more than willing to help us in any way possible, as electricity will dramatically improve their quality of life.”

The trust and hope that the people placed in these lineworkers for a better future are powerful examples of how communities can come together, even across borders, to create positive change. The project not only offers practical benefits but also highlights the importance of global cooperation for sustainable development.