A Maestra Fogonera Leads a Network of Lenca Women in Honduras
“Without the support of women's groups, it would be more difficult to socialize the project in the communities”
Elsa Rodríguez, Dulce nombre Togopala
At Trees Water and People (TWP) we recognize and value the fundamental role that women have historically played in agriculture, food production, and the development of their communities. To make decisions in these areas they have faced diverse challenges for the enjoyment and equality of rights for a dignified life. The “Justa” Clean Cookstove project and the stove builders’s network- a joint initiative between TWP and strategic partners in Honduras, has supported the women’s efforts by increasing their active participation up to 40% in the construction of clean cookstoves, individual economic ventures, and other similar actions at the community level.
Elsa Rodríguez is an inspiring example of women empowerment in this sector. She is a Lenca stovebuilder from the Dulce Nombre Togopala community, who has succeeded in generating environmental awareness in the indigenous communities, promoting local economic ventures, and advocating for indigenous women's rights. She has taken advantage of the opportunities generated through the Clean Cookstove project to create an alliance with the Intibucá Municipal Women's office (OMM), which allocates about 5% of the municipal budget to women's groups in the areas of economic entrepreneurship, human rights,and gender equity. To date, they have supported more than 118 women's groups, who are distributed in 64 communities in this municipality. This agreement between the governmental entities and the women's groups facilitated the ecotechnology dissemination to 300 households.
Elsa describes her strategy as follows: "We and the OMM take advantage of the women's network meetings to talk about the stoves, so that I can help the women to have one, and be able to take the smoke out of their homes.” In 2023, Elsa was elected and ratified as the municipal president of the Lenca women's network of Intibucá. With her commitment and new leadership role, in collaboration with TWP, the project's coverage will be expanded to 150 homes. Elsa is an example among several women, whose advocacy at the community and municipal level, are a vital force in the struggle for social and environmental justice, and gender equality in rural communities, especially indigenous communities.
