Sol para
Cuba‍ ‍

A CAYO Community Solar Initiative

Amaya’s Story

In her own words · Amaya Fuentes Sarría, viola — Havana Quartet, artist-in-residence at CAYO

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 — CAYO’s quartet-in-residence — 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.

“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.”

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 / CAYO artist-in-residence

Why give?

  • ✽

    Amaya’s story is not an exception. Since early 2026, a US fuel blockade has cut off oil shipments to Cuba, triggering nationwide blackouts 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.

  • ✽

    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.

  • ✽

    Component 1 — 5 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

    •       Delivery to Cuba included

    Cost: ~$1,050 per home · 5 homes = $5,250

  • ✽

    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

Phase 1 - Home Kits + Mini-Solinera

3% Cover the Fee

All donations are 100% tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.

Component 1 — 5 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

•       Delivery to Cuba included

Cost: ~$1,050 per home · 5 homes = $5,250

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

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Yes, CAYO is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and your donation is fully tax-deductible.

  • Donations for this project will go to our trusted team members in Cuba, who will put funds directly into equipment purchasing and installation.

  • Our first priority is to serve the artist community in Cuba and their families, including students, teachers and CAYO staff in Havana.