Stove Materials Buying and Distribution for La Victoria, June 7, 2013

The second of two days of materials purchase and distribution was for La Victoria. On June 7th, we had several volunteers and members of the participant families working together to delivery the building materials.  Just as in Llanos del Pinal, we stopped to pick up the cooktops, chimney tubes, and sombreros (hats). Up next was about 600 lbs. of barro (clay), 880 bricks, and finally eight 100-pound bags of cement. La Victoria is about 45 minutes northwest of Xela (Quetzaltenango).  We met the cinder block truck, which was loaded with 240 blocks, just outside of Esperanza.

The distribution day for La Victoria was a little different compared to our normal distribution methodology in which we go house-to-house to deliver the materials.  Because the area is very hilly and some of the homes are not accessible by vehicle, we made three drops for the eight families. One main drop was for six families at a central location; from there the families distributed the materials to their respective homes. All the families were on hand to unload the materials. Blocks and bricks were piled neatly with their planchas and chimneys by their sides, awaiting their final destinations. Happy faces were made happier with a snack and atol (a hot corn-based drink) from the local women. Once the break was over we finished our deliveries to the other two families. It's time to build some stoves!

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.

The Safe Stove Project: Perspectives and reflections from the new general projects coordinator

Last week we were visited by a group of enthusiastic high schoolers from our partner organization, Timmy Global Health.  This Wednesday afternoon I had the opportunity to join a group of these students, led by our Environmental Projects Coordinator, Juan, to build a safe stove in a home in Llanos del Pinal, near the Family Support Center.  I also spent most of Thursday helping Juan's group and another group led by our Family Support Center Coordinator, Adam, to build stoves in the more distant community of La Victoria.  

This was one of the most enriching experiences I have ever had the pleasure of contributing to, as the positive externalities it creates are plentiful: First, it is about 80% more efficient to use these stoves than to cook over an open fire, which greatly reduces not only the amount of wood used, thus curbing rampant deforestation, but also reduces the amount of time rural families must dedicate to collecting this wood.  Perhaps even more important, the safe stoves funnel smoke out of the home, avoiding respiratory problems common among Guatemalan women used to cooking over an open fire.  They also sit high enough to enable women not to constantly bend over, reducing the risk of potential back problems also common among rural Guatemalan women.  Upon completion of the stove, our group leaders take the time to explain the environmental hazards of burning plastic, a common practice among rural Guatemalans, in hopes of further reducing long term environmental degradation.

After each stove is completed, a picture is taken of the family standing proudly in front of their new safe stove (Stay tuned for forthcoming pictures and further descriptions from our most recent stove building efforts provided by our group leaders!)  Watching these families smile standing in front of their stove is an absolute joy, and to be a part of such a groundbreaking development for them makes all of the hard work well worth the reward.

Stove Interviews

Pueblo La Victoria:  Mam Maya

We just completed another round of stove interviews:  I feel very privileged to be a part of the process!  Our stove interviews for this round are in Llanos del Pinal and La Victoria.  Llanos del Pinal is closer to Quetzaltenango (Xela, as it's often referred) is Quiché (K'iche') Maya.  The other community, La Victoria is within 20-25 kilometers from Xela and is Mam Maya.  Despite the language and cultural differences, both groups share similar aspects of need:  cleaner air to cook in, safer environment for themselves and their children (reduction of burns and exposure), and the reduction of firewood usage.

Llanos del Pinal:  Quiché (K'iche') Maya

The stoves are built in different stages.  First stage consists of building a base of cinder block and cement that measures 90cm x 125cm and is three blocks high.  The second stage is constructed of brick, cement, and clay which is also three bricks high.  The third stage consists of building the fire box of brick and clay, setting the plancha/cooking surface, sealing it, and then installing the chimney.  The stoves get a door after about 40 days and it is completely ready to use in about 45.  In June we are hoping to construct eight stoves in La Victoria one week with the help of Timmy Global Health.  We will be dividing this effort into three days with four stoves beign build in the morning and four in the afternoon.  The subsequent days we will build the second and third stages, again four stoves in the morning and four in the afternoon.

Llanos del Pinal:  Quiché (K'iche') Maya

At Pop Wuj we are excited to have the opportunity to impact the local communities with these projects!  It's amazing what can be done with volunteer help.  There is much that can be done when like-minded people come together.  The impact to the health of the women and their children is quite clear as they no longer have a compromised cooking environment.  There is also an impact to the environment, specifically the reduction of wood usage.  This allows more time for other aspects of their daily lives with less time and money spent on wood procurement.  Win win all the way around!!

Second and Third Stages of Stove Building

By Anssel López

In my last post I talked about the great things I’ve seen while interning at Pop Wuj and how Pop Wuj brought a community together. Among all that I witnessed, the most striking was the power of changing a life.  I know it sounds a little extreme, but hear me out and then make up your mind.

I was only involved in building eight stoves during my short time at Pop Wuj. My direct involvement was leading the team and translating to English for the Spanish immersion students. Once or twice I was told, “We are learning Spanish, and we should be speaking Spanish, not English.” Perhaps they were right, but I saw volunteers working to achieve a common goal: a new Safe Stove for a complete stranger! I know that when we come to Guatemala to volunteer it is because of just that. We don’t care who is receiving the safe stove, rather we come to build it so we can contribute in some way.

Cutting Bricks,  Photo by Juan Burlew

Broken Bricks!  Photo by Juan Burlew

Paty, working on the Second Stage
Photo by Juan Burlew

This attitude sounds a bit bad in one way or another. However my perspective changed in the last few weeks working with Pop Wuj. I got to know the people. I got to know Doña Rosa and Doña Josefina, how many kids and how many grandchildren they have. I got to know what was affecting them. I had never seen these things before I started directing the stove construction.

Leveling during the Second Stage
Photo by Juan Burlew

We help people with asthma, cataracts and many other problems—too many to describe. Many of them where so happy that they cried when we finished the stove. Doña Margarita was the last stove that I had the honor to build—talk about need. I took three groups of students to the home and we worked in the same way as any other stove. However, not a single student could resist saying, “Wow!” as soon as we stepped into the kitchen. There were layers of smoke, soot and creosote from the last 49 years. It was so thick that you could take a knife and cut it. Can you imagine what her lungs must look like? Not a pretty picture.

Doña Margarita, before picture

Doña Margarita cried of course, but it was her words that struck us the most. “Gracias, nadie me había dado un regalo tan lindo como este. Ustedes son ángeles.” Thank you, nobody had ever given me such a beautiful gift. You are angels.” It might not seem that impactful, but for me, knowing her story of abuse, neglect, and her husband’s alcoholism and that she is ending her days alone, these words were very valuable and important. 

This is what your contributions and work do; it changes lives and gives opportunity to those that already have lost faith in life and humanity. As part of my last assignment I want to take this opportunity to say gracias, thank you, to you the donors of time, money, and logistical support. Every single thing you have done has left a deep mark that time will only make greater.

End of the Second Stage,  Photo by Juan Burlew

The family's reminder not to burn plastic!  Photo by Juan Burlew

Although the stove recipients might not know your name, they will never stop thanking those that made this possible. This sentiment is coming from a Guatemalan that had the opportunity to come home and help with only a grain of sand. What you have given are bags and bags of sand, you are their heroes and dream makers. For these communities you are the superheros. The families do not know you, but they know that you are there when they need you. 
 

Finished Stove with Reminder
Photo by Juan Burlew

Gracias Pop Wuj por la oportunidad de servirles con poco, pero más que nada por permitirme ser parte de esta historia sin fin, que ustedes siguen escribiendo semana a semana. Ustedes cambiaron mi vida y mi forma de verla.

New Season has started!

Doña Rosa and Anssel photo by Juan Burlew

Choosing the right place photo by Juan Burlew

 On Wednesday February 6th, we started a new season of safe stove building.  In our "meeting" post, we mention an elderly woman, "Dona Rosa" who was desperately in need of her new stove.  We prioritized her need and started our new cycle at her home.   Doña Rosa's face lit up when we came to her house. Students and teachers worked side to side to start this new safe stove.  A group of 6 people showed up at her home willing to get their hands dirty, to move heavy cinder blocks, prepare concrete, and make sure that the base of this stove was level and perfect to continue with the second stage. 

The same day we started a second stove with another group of teachers and volunteers of our Spanish immersion program.  Doña Josefina, was also selected to be one of the first to start the building of her stove. This group of teachers and students, as with the other group, worked as hard and meticulously  as possible to create a wonderful base that is a very important piece for the second stage to be perfect. 

Jen and Perry photo by Juan Burlew

The first layer photo by Juan Burlew

Leveling By Juan Burlew

We have to thank all the teachers and volunteers for their dedication and enthusiasm.  I witnessed how Pop Wuj unifies a community.  I saw students roll up their sleeves and work alongside community members to haul materials, wet blocks and mix cement. In addition to these dedicated volunteers we want to thank you, our readers, for your past, present and future support of  such a noble cause!  Stage two coming soon!

Final touches photo by Juan Burlew

Final product being supervised! photo by Juan Burlew

Materials Buying Day

Wednesday January 30^th our new stove cycle got off to a grand start. With the help of Pop Wuj Spanish language school volunteers, Pop Wuj staff and family members of the stove group, we delivered all the materials for new “estufas” to the Llanos del Pinal community. The day started early with volunteers arriving at 7:30 and family members catching early buses for the Xela rendezvous.  At the end of the day we had delivered 270 blocks, 990 bricks, 9 bags of cement, 18 sacks of clay, 9 planchas (metal tops) and 9 chimneys to the project sites.

     Nine families were chosen in the Llanos community to receive stoves during this construction cycle. One additional stove was constructed at a home in Xela and served as the training project for the two new project coordinators.  Stoves will be built in four stages using volunteers, staff and family members. Participants are chosen based on need and the community where they reside. Often these women are cooking over an open flame which contributes to health problems for themselves, as well as other family members.
 In  addition to the health benefits, these more efficient, well-ventilated stoves burn less fuel and minimize  deforestation.

Photos by Juan Burlew

At the end of the day, with soiled clothes and sore muscles, we fondly bid farewell to the community members with a promise to return and begin the initial building phase of the project. Happy for the opportunity to contribute to such a worthwhile project, we piled in the back of the truck for the trek back to Xela and much needed showers.

Safe Stoves Meeting Kicks Off a New Stove Cycle!

 

What a great day we had on Wednesday, January 23th! Nine new participant families of the Safe Stove Project came to the Pop Wuj Spanish School and were greeted by Carmen, Roney and all the coordinators and facilitators.  We had a short talk about maintenance and care of their new stoves as well as a presentation by two students about the health and environmental risks of open fires. 

Christina, a medical student and volunteer at Pop Wuj’s clinic, discussed the main diseases caused by the smoke of an open fire, like lung cancer, other respiratory illnesses, cataracts, etc.  Genny, a fuel engineer and an immersion student at Pop Wuj, spoke about the efficiency of the stoves with a focus on the environmental problems caused by the open fires. 

Some of the women who are participating in the Safe Stove Project talked about their own experiences with open fires and the immediate effects, like coughing and breathing problems, as well as the other more long-term effects that they have experienced.  A safe stove is needed in all of the families’ cases, however there was a particular case that struck us the most.  An elderly woman, already suffering from years of exposure to smoke, has developed cataracts in her left eye.  As sad as it is, we are glad to know that we will be there with her, building a stove, so that soon she will be cooking in a smoke-free kitchen. 

La hora de la hora

“La hora de la hora” has arrived at Pop Wuj. The school is running near full capacity with incoming students on summer vacation. This week alone there have been five new arrivals.  The teachers have their hands full with eager learners, while the community development programs have a plethora of enthusiastic volunteers. To say the least, it’s busy! So busy, I haven’t had time to post a proper blog update!!

We recently said bye to our good friends fromTimmy Global Health (Timmy).  In addition to their regular medical trips, Timmy also sends a group of high school students (aka Timmy Chiquito) to build stoves with Pop Wuj. This year they helped us complete 10 stoves in Llanos de Pinal. During the course of four days, we ran four separate construction sites in the mornings and afternoons. Don’t worry, in between shifts we rested for lunch at the Family Support Center (formerly La Guardería). The hard workers from Timmy put smiles on the face of many stove recipients. Both parties were pleased to have shared a collective experience, in building stoves and in learning another´s culture. Now that the Timmy volunteers have returned to the U.S. , Pop Wuj will finish up its work in Llanos de Pinal and begin a new group of stove recipients in Xepache. See you next year Timmy Chiquito!  For more information about Timmy Global Health, please visit http://www.timmyglobalhealth.org/.

Timmy Brigade

            Two weeks ago the Timmy Global Health brigade came to the school to do a solid 3 days worth of stove building.  We were able to work on 12 different stoves, some of which were complete and others that will be completed in the coming weeks. Before their arrival we went around to the houses of prospective stove recipients to interview the families to collect socio-economic information.  We are continuing to work in Llanos del Pinal but next in line are 9 families from Xepache – a community not too far from Llanos.  With so many students at the school right now we’re able to have three groups go out to do stoves each week so it won’t be too long before we’re back out interviewing again! 

Stoves in Llanos and Xepache

 This past week a group of student volunteers helped finish the second stage of the stove in Doña Robertina’s house, another stove recipient in the community where we’re currently working, Llanos de Pinal. In the past two months four stoves have been built, and in March the stove at the Family Support Center was also completed. Seven families remain in the current stove group in Llanos. In the next couple weeks we will start visiting houses and interviewing our next group of stove recipients from the Xepache community. Coming up later in June we will have a big group from Timmy Global Health (http://www.timmyglobalhealth.org/) to just work on stoves. We’ve started preparing for their visit so we can make the most of their time here.