A team of volunteer linemen from five of Florida’s electric cooperatives will be heading to Guatemala at the end of the month, to install power lines and connect electricity to 30 homes in a remote village.

The team of 14 volunteers will leave on Nov. 30 and stay 17 days, installing power poles and lines without the help of bucket trucks or other heavy machinery, due to rough terrain.

“Everything’s done by hand. We’re going to climb all the poles and frame the poles in the air, and we’re going to string the wire off a set of hooks and climb it the old fashioned way,” said team leader David Lambert, Manager of Member Services for Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative. 

All of the companies involved are members of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Lambert said this will be the first time a team from Florida will be traveling internationally, as part of the organization's program to support rural electrification in developing countries.

Once the power is running, Lambert said the team has plans to throw a holiday party for all of the families in the village.

Along with presents, they will be bringing with them Christmas lights for the children to see for the first time ever.

You can follow the team’s journey in real time on their Facebook page.