Wood Stoves in Guatemala
In partnership with Habitat for Humanity, JJ Bean is bringing smokeless stoves to the West-Highland area of Huehuetenango, Guatemala. These wood stoves are a relatively cheap and practical solution to many problems caused by the smoke from indoor fires.
Currently, the majority of families living in this area of Guatemala do their indoor cooking with open fires. The smoke from these fires ("indoor air pollution", or IAP) commonly leads to health problems such as respiratory infections, which can be quite serious and even deadly. According to Habitat for Humanity:
Informal estimates indicate that acute lower respiratory infection mortality among children could be reduced by as much as 60% annually by eliminating IAP. In addition to causing respiratory illnesses, open fire stoves also increase a family’s risk of burns and accidental fires. As fires are often on the ground, children may accidentally step in or near them, creating unhygienic and unsafe environments. Also, the soot that accumulates on the home’s ceiling makes the home more flammable and thus a safety hazard. Furthermore, the loss of energy associated with an open fire obligates families to burn a relatively large amount of firewood every day. This is both a financial burden for impoverished families, and a direct cause of deforestation in many parts of Guatemala.
The wood stoves, which are provided by Habitat for Humanity and paid for in part by JJ Bean's Over & Above initiative, offer a healthier and safer way for families to cook their food, in an area of Guatemala where over 70% of families live in poverty.
With your help, JJ Bean was able to provide wood stoves for 20 families in the first half of 2010.