If You Build it, They Will Come

January 27, 2011

If You Build it, They Will Come

The last few months have found me super busy out of the Casco Urbano at meetings with local women groups discussing my continuing stove project.



Typical Stove

 For those of you who don’t know, almost every home here in Honduras has an ‘estufa’ or an open fire stove, which allows the smoke to openly escape into the house and directly into the lungs of (mostly) women and children, since they are the ones who do most of the cooking. A lot of these estufas are inside a home and the number one cause of respiratory and eye problems. According to the World Health Organization, of the two million people that die every year (worldwide) from household pollution, 44 per cent of these are from childhood pneumonia, the single biggest cause of children's death in the world. Fifty-four per cent of deaths are from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 2 per cent from lung cancer. The WHO ranks the problem as one of the worst health risks facing the poor (worldwide). Here is a link to a great article about the worldwide problem  http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/home-fires-the-worlds-most-lethal-pollution-2192000.html



New Stove

 After garnering enough support to decide that the project would be a success here in Orocuina, I set out to find funding for the project. This was not an easy task (although I find asking for money in any country or language never is). But, my idea for this project was large. I wanted to work with several PCV’s and an NGO here in Orocuina. I wanted to do something sustainable, so the women would know how to build the stoves well after I leave. After contacting several different NGO’s that help to build these stoves, I spoke with Trees Water and People www.treeswaterpeople.org/  an organization based out of Colorado and founded by a former PCV. They have a great history of building stoves here in Honduras and put me in contact with AHDESA, a group for the Development of Honduras. Last week I went to Teguz and met with them, saw where they make parts for the stoves (the chimneys and planchas) and we talked about our goals and objectives. I told them we wanted to build 200 stoves in the community; they asked me how about 500? I was blown away! 500 stoves, what a great goal, but could it be done? I was so happy to be working with people who had higher aspirations than me!

I returned back to site and began speaking with the women. Amanda (my friend in site who works for the NGO) had begun speaking with the women as well. They were very excited and had begun spreading the word. I have hung posters up at the Centro de Salud and this morning a lady called me at 7:00 am asking me about the stoves! I have begun to complete the proposal, which was already outlined for me by another community member, and hope to have it turned in the first week of February. Next week we are meeting with the women and the AHDESA group is coming to answer all their questions. Today I will continue walking throughout the community and spreading the word about the meeting. More news about the stoves later, but for now, things are looking up!