CAYO is launching an ambitious 2-stage effort to bring solar energy to our CAYO Cuban community, deploying affordable, state-of-the-art mini-solar power generators.
Amaya’s Story
“The energy crisis in Cuba has reached extremely difficult levels. In my city, blackouts can last several days in a row. If the electricity stays on for three consecutive hours, that is already considered something unusual.”
Like most Cubans living in the United States, Amaya works hard not just to build her own life here, but to support her family back home. As a violist with the Havana Quartet, she has made Minnesota her home since 2023. But her mother and aunt remain in Cuba, living through a crisis that has grown harder to watch from afar.
Without power, food spoils constantly. The family generator they once saved up for now sits idle — fuel has become nearly impossible to find even when you have the money to pay for it. Getting a single gas cylinder recently cost Amaya’s mother around $75 — more than ten times the average Cuban monthly salary of $7.
The situation is made more urgent by the fact that Amaya’s mother cares for her sister, who has severe visual and speech disabilities. She once lived alone in a multi-story building — today that is impossible. Without electricity, the elevator doesn’t run, and navigating the stairs poses a constant risk to her safety.
“Any help, however small, can make a real difference for my family. Every contribution brings us a little closer to having a safe, reliable source of energy.”
— Amaya Fuentes Sarría, Havana Quartet
You can help bring energy to our CAYO community in Cuba.
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Amaya’s story is not an exception. Since 2024, nationwide blackouts have increased in frequency, now lasting up to 20 hours a day. The national grid has collapsed completely on multiple occasions, leaving nearly 10 million people without power for extended periods.
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Solar energy has become the only reliable lifeline. Cuban entrepreneurs have begun pioneering a new concept — the solinera — a community solar charging station that operates completely off-grid and is open to anyone. This campaign funds exactly that, alongside direct home solar kits for families like Amaya’s.
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Who will benefit?
Our team in Cuba, to start - folks like Lauren, Daiana, Wilfredo and Manuel who have made the almost-impossible possible for CAYO in Cuba.
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What are next steps?
With a successful first stage, we will expand to the families of the Havana Quartet, then to students from schools like Amadeo Roldán and ENA. With your support, we can make a meaningful difference in a family’s ability to eat, sleep and communicate during the oppressively hot summer months in Cuba.
Phase 1 - Home Kits + Mini-Solinera
Component 1 — 10 Home Kits
EcoFlow Delta 3 Max + up to 500W solar panels. Each family receives a complete, expandable solar system — enough for lighting, refrigeration, phone charging, and small appliances around the clock.
• EcoFlow Delta 3 Max power station (expandable)
• Up to 500W solar panels
• Expandable with external battery
Cost: ~$1,050 per home · 10 homes = $10,050
Component 2 — Mini Solinera (Community Charging Station)
A portable, off-grid community charging station serving up to 25 people per day. Equipment travels as checked luggage by diaspora volunteers.
• 2× 200W foldable solar panels (Renogy suitcase style)
• 2× EcoFlow Delta 2 power stations (2kWh total storage)
• 20-port USB charging hubs
• Power strips, cables, weatherproofing
Cost: ~$1,900 one-time build
After the storm clears, just 96 minutes of sunlight is all it takes to recharge DELTA 3 Max.
Phase 2 — Permanent Solinera
Once we secure a community location, we plan to upgrade to a permanent, professionally installed solinera. These fully installed Cuban-supplier kits are already available:
Photo © Granma/Ramón Barreras Valdés
Kit #6 — Community · $5,250
• 6× 580W panels · 6kW hybrid inverter (110–220V) · 2× 51.2V 100Ah batteries · Installation included
Kit #8 — Flagship · $7,600
• 10× 580W panels · 10kW hybrid inverter (110–220V) · 15kW battery bank · Installation included
Please contact us if you’d like to sponsor one of these larger-scale solutions.
The Ecoflow Impact
“Gracias a la Ecoflow, puedo dormir por las noches. Los apagones aquí en Cuba son cada vez de más horas, ponen la corriente una o dos horas diarias”.
“Thanks to my EcoFlow, I can sleep at night. Power outages here in Cuba are lasting longer and longer; the electricity is only on for an hour or two a day”.
“La Ecoflow se carga muy rápido, alrededor de una hora, lo que me permite conectarle después los equipos para cocinar y principalmente los ventiladores para combatir el calor y los mosquitos de noche”.
“The EcoFlow charges very quickly—in about an hour—which allows me to then plug in cooking equipment and, most importantly, fans to combat the heat and mosquitoes at night”.
Without an Ecoflow, we have no way to get electricity during the day”.
“Sin un Ecoflow, no tenemos nada por el día para tener electricidad”.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes, CAYO is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and your donation is fully tax-deductible.
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Donations for this project will go to our trusted team members in Cuba, who will put funds directly into equipment purchasing and installation.
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Our first priority is to serve the artist community in Cuba and their families, including students, teachers and CAYO staff in Havana.