TWP's Service Learning Project Building Stoves In Nicaragua

Twentyfour fuel efficient cookstoves were made in three days for low income families in San Jose de Bocay, Nicaragua by a group from Blacksburg, Virginia as a part of a project undertaken by Trees, Water & People (TWP), a nonprofit organization founded in 1998 by Stuart Conway and Richard Fox.

The group, including 11 Virginia Tech students and residents of Blacksburg, stayed in San Jose de Bocay from 2-14 January, 2011 as a part of a service learning project aimed at building fuel efficient cookstoves for 25 homes. The stoves were built with the aim of reducing indoor air pollution, deforestation and other problems caused by traditional cookstoves of excessive fuel consumption and the related costs.

The project is an outcome of a visit to Bocay by TWP and a Proleña stove technician in October, 2010 who evaluated the cooking practices and fuel wood consumption trends of the inhabitants. The beneficiaries of the stove were identified and based on the requirements of the place; a stove was designed by Proleña which suited the cooking needs of the women in Bocay.

 “We had a great week in San Jose de Bocay. The whole group was great, the arrangements worked well and we managed to build 24 stoves in 3 long days, and greatly strengthen our sister-city relationships in San Jose de Bocay,” said Jim Bier, the trip leader.

Photo Courtesy and full story on: TWP Helps Connect Sister Cities in Virginia and Nicaragua

2010 UNEP Sasakawa Award for TWP Cook Stove Program

Trees, Water & People has been named co-laureate for the 2009-10 UN Environment Program (UNEP) Sasakawa Prize.

The project spearheaded by TWP works in partnership with local NGOs and self help groups in order to distribute fuel efficient cook stoves in Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Haiti and Nicaragua.

TWP has helped in providing and building more than 35,000 stoves which has benefited more than 175,000 people so far.

TWP offers a variety of stove models to meet the needs of different communities while conserving trees and decreasing emissions from deforestation. The Justa Stove burns 70% less wood, saving families between US$1 - $5 per day. They also decrease harmful carbon emissions by 1 tonne CO2 equivalent per year per stove for domestic users and 3.5 tonnes CO2 equivalent per year for commercial users, such as tortilla makers.

In order to supplement the trees used in the fuel-efficient stoves, the project also includes reforestation efforts to sequester carbon and counter the effects of deforestation. TWP has assisted in the creation of 16 community-run nurseries that produce 650,000 trees each year. TWP’s reforestation efforts have led to the planting of three million trees to date throughout Latin America.

The accolade also includes $200,000 which TWP will use in supporting and expanding the fuel efficient stove projects and nurseries across indoor air pollution affected countries that include Central America and the Caribbean as well as purchasing necessary equipment and materials which will help in boosting the production of smoke less cook stoves.