Protect Guatemalan Forests with Clean Cookstoves

Tu’ik Ruch’ Lew is Celebrating Success!

In 2022, all of TRL's proud recipients have been successful using and maintaining their improved
energy-efficient cook stoves. But this isn't the case with all cook stove projects. The reason is that
most stove projects focus on the number of stoves installed and pay little attention to whether the
stove recipients understand how to successfully use and maintain their new stove.

When abandoned and broken stoves are tossed aside, clean cook stove projects get a bad reputation—why many stove projects are not being supported in developing countries. And yet, using a clean cook stove is one of the most effective ways to protect the respiratory health of women and their families; reduce firewood use by 70%, which improves family economies while saving trees on the hillsides; and eliminate 3 tonnes of carbon dioxide from entering our atmosphere each year they are used.

Here's an example of the problem. In a recent project in a village on the shores of Lake Atitlan, more than 80 stoves, identical to those installed by TRL, were donated by a large international organization. The members of the organization visited for a few days, dropping off the stoves in the homes of local families. As one of the visitors reported: “The Maya people were all smiles, even though we couldn’t communicate a word because we didn’t speak the same language.” He returned home feeling satisfied that he had done a charitable act. But the language barrier meant there was no in-depth instruction as to how to use the stoves and no follow-up to make sure they were being used and maintained successfully. Many of the stoves were abandoned or chopped apart, with only the metal stove top remaining, and the rest being sold. Unfortunately, this sad story is repeated all around the world with the result that cook stove projects are not that popular among large donors.

This is why we at TRL are celebrating! Using constant feedback from our community, we have
perfected our stove adoption education process, which includes an initial orientation and follow-up with our recipients during the first installation year. This year, we reached 100% successful adoption of all stoves installed. During our visitation program, we found that every installed stove has been fully functioning and cherished by its owners! Yes, it has taken TRL some time to achieve this goal, but with community confidence in TRL’s team, our message has been heard and assimilated by our stove owners, empowering them to feel good about how they are using their stoves, not only to benefit their families, but also to Help the Earth, in Tz’utujil dialect,Tu’ik Ruch Lew.

Your support is what makes all of this possible! Please share our pride in the important results, for people and the planet, that your donations have accomplished.

Gratefully, Candis Krummel

 Stay tuned for our next report when we will focus upon our process.

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