Why Stoves?????

Why Stoves?
The indigenous Mayans for centuries have cooked their meals using an indoor fire pits located on the house floor called a "three stone fire".
As a result……
* There are high instances of burns due to the open flames allowing children to fall into these open fires.
* The excessive unventilated smoke in the home results in impaired eyesight issues, respiratory problems, such as asthma, cancer, and allergies. The World Health Organization declares it is the leading cause of death for Central American children under the age of 5.
*The CO2 (carbon monoxide), a deadly toxin, is typically found to be twice the level considered to be dangerous.
*Deforestation due to the wood needed to fuel fires is occurring at a 2% rate per year. Results in more energy being spent by the family, primarily the women, due to time for long treks to obtain firewood and carrying heavy bundles for long distances.
*For the many villages located on hillsides, more and more mud slides are occurring during rainy season, which at times, wipe out entire areas of villages due to deforestation.

The solution: A new stove which costs approximately $100

* Less burns due to the lifting up of the stove from the ground.
*Proper ventilation results in less deadly carbon monoxide and smoke inhalation. Resulting in improved overall health.
*60% to 70% reduction in wood consumption means long term benefits for the environment.
*Better quality of life for the woman which means less time spent gathering wood and less medical issues. Allowing more time for family, social and economic activities.