The Wood Burning Stoves Project

Start Date:   December 15, 2007
Main Contact:   Rotary International, Juan Carlos Pinto (President)
Project Manager:   Mateo Paneitz, E.D.
Current Status:   In progress

Purpose

To provide affordable and healthy wood burning stoves for families in Guatemala.

Description

In 2007, Rotary International donated funds and materials for twenty wood burning stoves to be built in rural Guatemala.   They have agreed to continue the donation for as long as there is a need for stove construction.   Long Way Home is acting as the on-site coordinator between Rotary's donations and the community of Comalapa, a role that involves receiving materials and material funds, selecting stove recipients, constructing the stoves, and teaching stove construction.   We are building two stoves each month throughout 2008.

The wood burning stoves built by Long Way Home are classified as an appropriate technology in that there is a deeply felt need for the stoves within rural Guatemala, the materials are all bought locally and are relatively inexpensive, and the stove design is uncomplicated and can be easily taught to the local people.

Health

One goal of this project is to reduce smoke inhalation in adults and children, a main cause of sickness and death in Guatemala.   Through much of rural Guatemala, families cook over open fires within their homes because they cannot afford to build or buy efficient stoves.   Statistics indicate that the average family member inhales the equivalent of smoking five packs of cigarettes per day when open fires are used in their enclosed kitchens.   By constructing efficient wood burning stoves with chimneys, we aim to improve the overall health and standard of living of the people of Guatemala.

Environmental and Economic Contribution

The other main purpose of building wood-burning stoves is that they consume 50-70% less firewood than open-air fires.   The reduction offirewood consumption is a crucial step in combating Guatemala's deforestation crisis (see LWH Reforestation Project).   For families who purchase firewood, the stoves make a long-term economic contribution by reducing their food preparation and heating budget.

Education

An important aspect of this stove building project is that it is replicable within the community of Comalapa.   With its simple design, the family receiving the stove can participate in its construction, thereby learning how to build these efficient stoves themselves.   Once the local people receive this instruction from Long Way Home staff, they then know how to build additional stoves within their family and community, allowing further perpetuation of this appropriate technology.

Potential

As long as people are using inefficient wood burning stoves or open fires and the forests are being depleted, there will be a need for stove construction.   Each stove costs about $80, which is usually divided between the sponsoring organization and the family receiving the stove.