For many very poor, rural Guatemalan families, cooking means building an open fire inside or just outside the home, often in a space that is nothing like the kitchens most of us know. Smoke fills their living space, firewood can take hours to gather, and safe drinking water is not always available. Since 2014, SewHope has worked directly with families to provide Chispa clean-burning stoves and water filters-simple solutions that make homes safer and healthier.
Many very poor, rural families in Guatemala cook over open fires inside or just outside their homes. These fires produce heavy smoke, use large amounts of firewood, and create unsafe conditions for the people preparing meals, especially women and children. Many families also lack reliable access to safe drinking water. These challenges affect entire households and are especially difficult for families living far from towns and basic services.
In 2027, SewHope will provide 50 rural families with a Chispa clean-burning stove and a water filter. Our staff travel to each family's home, install the equipment, and teach the family how to use and maintain it. SewHope staff return twice a year to check that both are working properly, and the water filter is replaced annually. The stoves produce less smoke and use less firewood, while the filters provide safer drinking water. Families take responsibility for caring for these improvements them
A stove and water filter can improve daily life for a family for years after installation. Families can cook with less smoke, use less firewood, and have safer drinking water. SewHope's twice-yearly follow-up visits help ensure the equipment continues to work properly, while annual filter replacement helps families maintain access to safer drinking water. The 50 households served in 2027 represent approximately 250-350 people.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
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