Lights up Zacatecoluca!

Pilar del Rosario has spent her entire life in Zacatecoluca, a municipality of 66,000 people in southern El Salvador, known for its high crime rates. For the past 30 years, she has sold coconuts along the town’s main access road, working tirelessly to support her family, including her grandson, Sergio Umaña. Now a university student, Sergio spends his afternoons helping his grandmother cut, prepare, and sell fresh coconut products.

“Ever since I was born, there weren’t any streetlights on the roads here. And because there was no security, I always had to close my business before it got dark,” Pilar recalls.

That reality has changed. Pilar is now one of over 40,000 people benefiting from an energy-efficient street lighting initiative. The project installed 177 streetlights in previously unlit areas, improving security and reducing crime for residents commuting after school or work.

As part of the Government of El Salvador’s Security Plan, the Regional Clean Energy Initiative, partnered with the municipality of Zacatecoluca and private companies Delsur and Philips Lighting. Together, they brought modern, efficient lighting to high-risk communities. The municipality played a crucial role in this effort, investing $1.6 million to replace 1,668 outdated streetlights with LED technology.

The new lighting has transformed public spaces, allowing businesses to stay open longer and encouraging more people to use parks and recreational areas after dark. The LED lights will also reduce the city’s energy costs by up to 50 percent, freeing up resources for further improvements.

A determined entrepreneur, Pilar now enjoys longer working hours and is planning to expand her business. She aims to diversify her offerings by selling traditional Salvadoran food to passing drivers at night.

“My grandmother and I feel safer working at night, and customers are more confident because of the streetlights. We are happy because now we can serve more people, and we will keep working hard to improve our lives,” says Sergio.

Thanks to USAID’s support, Zacatecoluca is becoming a safer and more vibrant community—one where hardworking entrepreneurs like Pilar can thrive.