Hello, All! Mason here. I wanted to share a very special project that one of our employees worked on this summer! Our technician Denise went to Guatemala with her church group to help build brick stoves for one of the villages there.
Did you know that exposure to cooking fire smoke kills approximately two million people worldwide every year? In Guatemala, as in many other countries, breathing in the toxic fumes while preparing food puts Mayan women and children at risk for respiratory illnesses, blindness, and burns on a daily basis. A majority of Guatemalan families use wood as their main fuel source, and many of Guatemala’s forests are lost annually, mainly due to the need for fuel for cooking fires. Precious family resources and a great deal of time are spent on gathering or purchasing wood. The cooking fires themselves are open air and not contained, so the smoke fills their huts and causes a buildup of smoke, ash, and noxious fumes with nowhere to go.
Building stoves helps alleviate these problems by building vented stoves that are adapted to Mayan cooking methods. These stoves are made of cement blocks held together by mortar, and feature a chimney pipe or smoke duct that takes the poisonous smoke out of the house. The design of the stove reduces wood consumption and pollution greatly. It is an ‘improved cooking stove’ and while most of us would find it rudimentary, Guatemalans are so very grateful for the vast improvement to their health and lifestyle. They can now avoid spending the better part of the day gathering wood and cooking, and no longer have to worry about getting burned or developing respiratory problems!
Along with building stoves, the group also helps paint walls and brings materials for education that drastically improves the villagers' every day lives. With more time in the day available, education is very important and more attainable.
Along with building stoves, the group also helps paint walls and brings materials for education that drastically improves the villagers' every day lives. With more time in the day available, education is very important and more attainable.
The villagers are so very grateful for the improvements to their lives. Denise says the Guatemalans gave lots of beautiful flowers to the group as thanks for their hard work, and you could see the gratitude in their eyes and smiles! What a wonderful project to be a part of!!
Well, kids, that's all for now. This is Mason, signing out until next time!
Well, kids, that's all for now. This is Mason, signing out until next time!
Til next meow,
 |
MASON |
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