We were very happy to welcome Elizabeth Ballantyne-Jackson, Janet Allan and Tom Clarke from the Guatemala Stove Project. The RCOS Environment Committee had been looking into this initiative for several months and was eager for the club to learn more about it.
In poorer regions of the world, many families use an open fire to cook their meals and this is typically indoors. This creates a significant health and safety risk to the entire family.
With a masonry cookstove, the smoke and toxins are vented outdoors. Additionally, the stove is much more efficient and uses half the fuel (wood). This requires less time gathering/harvesting wood, fewer trees being cut down, and less carbon and pollutants being released into the atmosphere. The Guatemala Stove Project (GSP) was started 24 years ago by Tom and has built over 8,000 masonry cookstoves. Tom figures that the GSP cookstoves over the years have offset more than 2,000 tons of CO2.
The design of the stove has been tweaked over the years, increasing the efficiency and improving the functionality. They are built by local masons and all the materials are bought in Guatemala. Local partner associations determine who receives a stove and looks after the on-site arrangements.
Every year, a trip of volunteers is organized by GSP to assist with the building and meet all the families and schools that are receiving a new cookstove.
in addition to this vital program providing safe, eco-conscious stoves, GSP has been providing bursaries to young women since 2014. They also participate in local micro loan projects and provide emergency medical support.
Tom, Janet and Elizabeth from GSP join Dave and Kateri from RCOS.
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