¡primera cocina!

We are finally progressing to the next step of the project, the actual construction of stoves! I contracted a consultant who is an expert in “cocinas mejoradas” (improved stoves) from the city to come to our community to support with the construction process. She trained the master builder and a group of fathers in the construction process. We made a stove model and the following week all of the mothers came to see it and get trained in use and maintenance of the stove.

The women were all very enthusiastic and excited to have a stove in their homes. It will definitely be quite an improvement for these families. The majority of families in the community cook over open fire. The design of the improved stove removes 100 % of smoke from the kitchen (preventing respiratory infections, lung cancer, eye infections), diminishes the use of firewood by 40% (minimizing deforestation), produces 45-65% less greenhouse gases than open pit fires, and encourages mothers to maintain a cleaner, more hygienic kitchens.

I have witnessed countless families suffering from cooking, three times a day, over a traditional open fire inside the house. Often, mothers with children on their backs, and other children running around the house, cook over these inside fires. The risks are many: pneumonia, bronchitis, emphysema, cataracts, cancers, heart disease, high blood pressure, low birth rate and many accidents, especially with children. In Peru, the leading cause of infant deaths is due to upper respiratory infections, often a result of exposure to smoke from open fire cooking. In addition, because this model dramatically decreases the use of firewood, deforestation will be minimized.

The community members are very enthusiastic about this new model. Although I still have a lot of work ahead (1 stove down, 50 to go!), it is exciting to see in their eyes their eagerness to have improved kitchens that will be with their families for years to come.