[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″]We are 6 months and 2000 miles into our 5000 mile solo horse ride. The Maya Pedal Horse Ride Fundraiser on Gofundme has raised $3000 of our $20000 goal. Thank you for your donations! We continue south and should be entering Mexico by mid April.
https://www.gofundme.com/Maya-Pedal-Horse-Ride-Fundraiser
When we arrive in Guatemala next fall we will rest up a bit before finishing our fundraiser with the Vuelta Maya Pedal. From January thru April 2018 we will tour the countryside and visit locations where pedal powered machines are being used daily. We hope to get a film made about this and showcase it to the world.
Maya Pedal designs and manufactures pedal powered machinery for farmers and families in Guatemala. They sell, donate and subsidize the machines accordingly. Maya Pedal is directed by Mario Juarez and his wife Veronica. Their daughter Melody helps with the non-profit as well.
The range of pedal powered applications include:
Grain mills
Water pumps
Blenders
https://www.instagram.com/p/BeUDQ2UDRpj/
Corn de-huskers
https://www.instagram.com/p/Be4DhzvDKdc/
Washing machines
Coffee de-pulpers and more.
The machines are adapted from old bicycles and hand powered or machine powered tools. In either direct or indirect drive, via gear reducers. Weighted flywheels and gears allow for smooth easy pedalling even under application load.
Maya Pedal is located in San Andres Itzapa, Guatemala. They have been building pedal powered machines since 2001.
One of their newest projects is called Pedal Power to People. This project is a community initiative to help those most affected by poverty. A $450 donation helps to install a pedal powered water pump and water filter for families in need. Clean water, readily available, is one of the basic human needs. That’s why this project makes such a positive impact.
https://mayapedal.gt/adopt-a-neighborhood/
Also from the mayapedal.gt website:
Maya Pedal provides facilites and is closely associated with several local improvement organizations and groups such as Las Niñas Lideran, Let Girls Lead, which provides training in advocacy and human rights leading to economic empowerment and related projects for women and girls. Let Girls Lead also addresses the topic of garbage litter and environmental education through participating in the campaigns Clean Guatemala.
Our partner group Agrapto, a women owned co-op produces and sells “typical”, (native plant based) shampoos with the help of Maya Pedal pedal powered machines, and fabric products, which augment the basic family agrarican based income.
Maya Pedal in 2017 constructed basic housing for 60 impoverished families in numerous locations in the vicinity of San Andres Itzapa. In 2018 our primary housing related effort is to provide clean water for families…”
As we continue riding south, please continue to think about the great work Maya Pedal does for their country.
Please make a donation today.
https://www.gofundme.com/Maya-Pedal-Horse-Ride-Fundraiser
For more info on Maya Pedal visit
MAYA PEDAL on FB
YouTube Maya Pedal.
Maya Pedal on TV:
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1814211741945702&id=1041621815871369
https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=566197900396001&id=100010173883884
Thanks to Dave Renfrow and Mario Juarez for the photos.
Please like Maya Pedal USA on FB. Dave co-ordinates this effort. The first $2000 we raised during our fundraiser helped with the transport of a shipment of bicycles from Montana to Guatemala. Dave co-ordinated the bike drive. The bikes are now being used as the raw material for future pedal powered machines….
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