A Rotary Partnership Project

Clean Cookstoves For Healthy-Start Families in Ixil, Guatemala

In the aftermath of a decades-long Guatemalan civil war, Healthy Start (HS) was created to provide a multi-layered, novel pathway to sustainable recovery for indigenous people experiencing extreme poverty and severe maladies such as respiratory illnesses and chronic childhood malnutrition. This grant from D5170/StoveTeam adds a critical component to HS for significant health, safety, environmental, and economic gains- by replacing open-fire cooking with clean fuel-efficient cookstoves for 100 Ixil families. As of 31 March 2024, we were 80% funded and needed $4,800K more support to complete this project. At approximately $200 per stove, that’s 24 more families that need our support.

The Justa cookstove (pronounced “hoo-stuh”) is built in place inside the home by local stove technicians trained

by StoveTeam. Each stove benefits an average family of nearly six people and provides meaningful employment

while contributing toward a solution to climate change and deforestation.

The Justa cookstove reduces smoke inside the home to nearly zero, uses half as much wood as an open fire, and saves up to 15 tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere over its lifespan, equal to the total yearly output of the average American.

By replacing open-fires with safe, fuel-efficient cookstoves, we are helping families create a safe and healthy home for their children to grow and thrive without fear of burns or the harmful effects of prolonged smoke exposure. StoveTeam’s cookstoves enable families to spend less time collecting wood or maintaining fires, and more time for employment, entrepreneurship opportunities, schooling, and family activities.

Rotary clubs can donate to this project by sending a check to StoveTeam International.

Please make out the check to StoveTeam International and write "Clean Cookstoves For Ixil" in the subject line. 

Checks can be mailed to:

PO BOX 14707

PORTLAND, OR 97293, USA

Please get in touch with Emily Cupo for additional information or assistance in making your donation.

Your donation supports the Clean Cookstoves For Healthy-Start Communities in Ixil-Guatemala project which is a partner project with Rotary clubs, Palo Alto Rotary Club and Valle de Guatemala, and the Guatemalan non-profit organization, Agros. These stoves will begin to be placed in April 2024