The Pop Wuj Stove project was started in 1993 in order to fight the many smoke-related illnesses, such as COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder) and ARI (acute respiratory illness), that present themselves in the developing world as a result of constant interaction with open fires. These illnesses are the leading cause of death among children in Guatemala. The addition of stoves to one-room homes also make them much safer places for children to be and minimize the frequent accidents that happen around an open fire. By keeping harmful smoke out of the house, families are able to climb out of poverty more easily without having to dedicate time and resources to caring for chronically ill loved ones.

Over the years the stove design has been reviewed and modified numerous times. One of the founding members of Pop Wuj is the author of the current design (one that he has happily shared with other nonprofit organizations worldwide as they seek to eliminate the same problems on other continents). Its popularity results from its durability, ease to build, and accessible materials.

The materials and transportation costs for our culturally-appropriate stove are $160 US. In harmony with our ongoing effort to make lasting, long-term change in Guatemala, we opt to spend a little more on each stove so that our efforts last throughout the years.

With the demand so high in rural communities for this specific design, there is a great need for funds. The easy design also allows the volunteers and community members to work side by side in their construction.

This project also supports our Environmental Program by offering communities a more fuel efficient way to prepare their food. In this way the reforestation efforts that we undertake are more effective, as these stoves consume less than half of the wood than an open fire does for the same effect.




Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Stove Material Buying and Distribution for Llanos del Pinal




In our continuing effort to reduce deforestation and abate the health risks associated with open fire cooking methods, families from two communities participated in the safe stoves project for this round: Llanos del Pinal and La Victoria. It is typical to buy and distribute the materials several days prior to the first building day. There were eight families in the community of La Victoria that participated in stoves and 11 families in Llanos del Pinal. These stoves consist of cinder block, bricks, cement, selecto, and clay, a cooktop called the 'plancha' and metal chimney fitted with a 'sombrero' (hat) that allows the smoke and fumes to escape the cooking area.


























The first of two days of materials purchase and distribution was for Llanos del Pinal. We had several volunteers that helped with the stove families. The day consists of getting a lorry truck for the materials, volunteers, and recipients. First stop getting the planchas, chimney tubes, and sombreros. Up next barro (clay) and bricks.  We purchased and loaded 1,210 bricks and about 850 or so pounds of barro, and finally eleven 100-pound bags of cement. Llanos del Pinal is about 15 or so minutes to the south of Xela (Quetzaltenango).  We met up with the cinder block truck in Llanos.  The truck was loaded with 330 cinder blocks.










The distribution of these materials went smoothly as our volunteers and recipients lined up to transport the materials to each family's residence. Bricks and blocks were unloaded and passed along the line from hand to hand to their final destination. Heavy bags of barro and cement were carried on the shoulders of the willing mules of men while the women hoisted the planchas atop their heads and to their destinations they went. Some houses are close to the road and some not so close and each family lent a helping hand to the cause. Smiles and laughter of appreciation and unity abounded as the eager recipients and volunteers chatted at the last stop of the day.