Summary

Trees, Water &People (TWP) has been building clean cookstoves in Guatemala since 1999, installing 2,600 units through 2015. In 2016, we worked with partners at Utz Ché to increase our target, and successfully installed 500 units in three departments of southeastern Guatemala, over a six month period. As a result of our effort, we have resolved to repeat it, and are currently raising funds for another 500 clean cookstoves.

Background

Trees, Water & People began designing and installing clean cookstoves throughout Central America in 1998 after Hurricane Mitch ravaged Honduras and caused extreme fuel shortages in the country. TWP and technical experts, Aprovecho Research Center, worked long hours to design a stove that would be accepted by local women, reduce fuel use by 50%, and eliminate smoke from the household. The result was the Justa stove, which has since been reproduced hundreds of thousands of times by dozens of organizations in the region.

Challenge

In Guatemala, 96% of the rural population uses fuelwood to cook their meals, and almost half of the fuel burned is considered non-renewable, contributing to loss and degradation of ecosystems. Most of this cooking happens over traditional open fires, exposing entire families to constant smoke and carbon monoxide inhalation in their homes. TWP has worked for 19 years to reverse this trend by promoting fuel-efficient clean cookstoves as a local solution.

Solution

We work with two manufacturers in Guatemala who have designed a stove that is partially pre-fabricated and partially built into the home with brick and mortar. This variation on our original Justa stove allows for better quality control and functionality, while maintaining the sweat equity portion of TWP’s approach.

We believe that everyone plays a role in making the world more sustainable and humane. Our donors provide the means, Trees, Water & People provides the network and know-how, our local partners deliver the solution, and each beneficiary provides local materials and sweat equity. Together we drive change and create dignified, healthy futures for our global community.