Celebrating StoveTeam’s Women Leaders

Rosemery Vail Hernandez, Master Stove builder, constructs a Justa stove in Guatemala

Sisters: Rosemery Vail Hernandez and Anabela Vail Hernandez 

This year, Rosemery Vail Hernandez and her sister Anabela Vail Hernandez found a new way to give back to their community and improve the health of Guatemalan families: building Justa stoves. 

The sisters aren't afraid to get their hands dirty, demonstrating enthusiasm for the project since the very beginning of their Master Stovebuilder training. They travel to multiple communities each week to develop building plans and construct stoves.

Alex Eaton, Guatemala Country Director said,“

“We have a handful of Maestras Comaleras that love building stoves: Mari, Anabela and Rosemery. They learned very quickly how to build and communicate with local families about the benefits of the Justa stove - but what I love more than anything is their positive attitudes.” 

StoveTeam International aims to continue building a team of women stovebuilders in Guatemala through trainings in 2023 as the Justa stove project expands to more regions of the country.

Anabela Vail Hernandez builds a new Justa stove in a Guatemalan kitchen.

Waleska Santos, Guatemala Operations Director

Waleska Santos, Guatemala Operations Director

This September marked the one-year Anniversary of Waleska's employment with StoveTeam. Waleska has made invaluable contributions to expanding StoveTeam's programs in Guatemala, supervising the launch of new Justa stove projects as well as the Master Stovebuilders (Maestros Comaleros) program. Country Director, Alex Eaton, had this to say about Waleska's contributions:

"It is a pleasure to work alongside Waleska who has grown to be a trusted advisor and partner. She has helped develop the Justa project into an effort that spans Guatemala and is fortified by a robust stovebuilder training program. Waleska is a powerful and intelligent woman who shares her knowledge and skill to bring safer homes to families in Guatemala.”

Waleska shared these words about her experience with StoveTeam so far:

“I am proud to be the Operations Director for the project in Guatemala. I love working for StoveTeam International because the team appreciates what I do and highly values my opinions. I know that they appreciate hard work no matter what experience or education we have. I also love working with people in the communities and doing my bit to help them improve their lives and the lives of their families.”

Help provide a stove

Generosity from Georgia to Guatemala: How StoveTeam and Rotary are changing lives in Retalhuleu

Generosity from Georgia to Guatemala: How StoveTeam and Rotary are changing lives in Retalhuleu

At StoveTeam, our stove recipients’ wants and needs inform our designs and approaches. We know that the success of our projects relies on the satisfaction of the families we serve. It’s not enough to provide a stove that saves fuel wood and ensures a smoke-free home, we also need to ensure that families truly love our stoves. Otherwise, they might not be be willing to leave behind the generations-old tradition of cooking over an open fire.

Developing the perfect stove: How we’re basing our designs on feedback from stove recipients

Developing the perfect stove: How we’re basing our designs on feedback from stove recipients

At StoveTeam, our stove recipients’ wants and needs inform our designs and approaches. We know that the success of our projects relies on the satisfaction of the families we serve. It’s not enough to provide a stove that saves fuel wood and ensures a smoke-free home, we also need to ensure that families truly love our stoves. Otherwise, they might not be be willing to leave behind the generations-old tradition of cooking over an open fire.

Returning to the “town of tears"

Returning to the “town of tears"

The first home I visited was ten by twelve. There were tree trunks at each of four corners, black plastic and old plastic bags for walls, and inside was a smoky open fire and a makeshift bed. Santiago [the father] had left the house at 3:30 am and returned four hours later carrying 77 pounds of firewood. He and Maria Luisa stayed in their home all day, and smoke filled the tiny room. Santiago had no energy left to work, and Maria Luisa was too ill to stand. The two of them lived that day on ten tortillas.