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Photo credit: David Fulford

HELPS International has developed an efficient woodburning cooking stove, which cuts wood consumption by about two thirds, for use in Guatemala. Although the initial plan was to install 3,000 stoves over three years, the demand has been so great that 2,700 were installed in year one.

One in five Guatemalan children do not make it to their fifth birthday as a result of respiratory problems caused by smoke inhalation from cooking on open fires. Open fires in the home are also the biggest cause of accidents in Guatemala, including severe burns and even sight loss. HELPS has designed and distributed 2,700 fuel-efficient stoves and built a local factory that produces 200 – 250 units a month. These stoves reduce wood consumption by 70%, drastically reducing indoor air pollution and the associated respiratory problems and eliminating the risk of burns. Alongside the stoves, the introduction of fast-growing trees as dual-purpose garden hedges and firewood providers holds out the prospect of easing the pressure on Guatemala’s dwindling forests.