A recent report in "An Inspiring Voice" noted that the Community of San Francisco de Raymina nested in the Southern Peruvian highlands had installed improved cook stoves with chimneys that helped eliminate the problem of smoky kitchens as a part of the first phase of developing a project aimed at the use of renewable energy for increasing their productive capacity.
"The installation of improved cookstoves with chimneys that help eliminate the problem of smoky kitchens – a major cause of chronic lung diseases – will help families enjoy better health," says author John Waller.
“Using renewable energy to micro entrepreneurs in remote villages” is one of 26 winning projects of the 2009 IDEAS Energy Innovation Contest, co-funded by GVEP International, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), GTZ of Germany and the South Korean government.
On the other hand, Guatemalan women are reaching out for stoves that smoke less, the ONIL stove being made by ASADE.
Says a write up on the Maya Relief Foundation, "The story started a few months prior when a humble woman walked into the “big” city of Coban in Guatemala from her village to ask ASADE for an ONIL stove. She had heard about how wonderful the stoves were and wanted one for her home."
She was told to go back to her village and get 20 more families to commit to the program of 6 components (stove, nixtamalera, etc.) and then ASADE could justify the expense of trucking the stoves to her home village. One week later she was back in Coban with the names of 20 families. The next day ASADE had the truck on the way and the stoves and other components were put into place.
According to HELPS international, the ONIL stove was developed to combat the health and environmental problems in rural Guatemala arising from the centuries-old open flame, three-stone cooking practice of the indigenous Mayan population. After an investigation of the cultural and technological factors surrounding three-stone fires, HELPS International developed the "ONIL" Stove: a durable stove that minimizes smoke and burns, and reduces wood use by 70%. In 2004, the HELPS International ONIL stove, developed by Don O’Neal, had been selected as a finalist in the Ashden Awards among over 100 top sustainable energy projects in the world.
Says the Foundation, "Leon and Rob went into the village to see the results and were greeted with true appreciation. The floor of the humble home was covered with pine needles, used only at times of great celebration, and the table was set with chicken soup, punch and tortillas."
Read the full story on "Community in the Peruvian Andes develops its productive capacities through renewable energy" in An Inspiring Voice.
