What if you could empower women, protect the environment and improve the lives of families throughout a whole country? Hudson Daybreak Rotarians have found an amazing way to accomplish this in Gautemala. Led by Dr. Greg Young, Rotarians Linda Robertson and Margaret Christianson visited with our group to talk about their work. He has traveled to Guatemala many times with his family, doing medical mission work, but recently focused on providing clean cooking stoves to Guatemalans.
What if you could empower women, protect the environment and improve the lives of families throughout a whole country? Hudson Daybreak Rotarians have found an amazing way to accomplish this in Gautemala. Led by Dr. Greg Young, Rotarians Linda Robertson and Margaret Christianson visited with our group to talk about their work. He has traveled to Guatemala many times with his family, doing medical mission work, but recently focused on providing clean cooking stoves to Guatemalans. He encourages Rotarians to support the project, either through financial contributions or by traveling to Guatemala to help with the project.

"Most Guatemalans live on a subsistence diet, primarily corn tortillas, which are cooked by women in smoky huts," said Greg. "The clean cooking stoves being provided through this project are wood burning stoves created to (1) reduce respiratory diseases from smoke inhalation, (2) reduce wood consumption by 80% and (3) create a central gathering place within the family dwelling."
 
The reduction of wood consumption is significant not only to decrease deforestation, but also to alleviate the burden on families, who often walked miles for wood. All materials are supplied locally; a stove can be built in three hours. The village participates directly in the distribution of materials and building of stoves. The stoves cost $69/each and are sold to the families for $30. Receiving a stove like this has a significant impact on families. Dr. Young compared it to if one of us were to win a car, or even a house.

The clean cooking stoves they are building were designed in 2014 by Carlos Gavlez, a Guatemala East Rotarian. He manages the program meticulously. More than 900 stoves have been built in schools and homes. Stoves are sometimes gift to schools, where the stoves have the greatest impact. The Hudson Daybreak Rotary Club is now becoming the program’s major sponsor. They contributed $5,000 in 2016-2017 and have budgeted another $3000 this year, with a goal of raising $4800 from other clubs as part of a $12K District Grant. In 2018-2021, they are planning to apply for a Global Grant.

The Daybreak Club sent seven Rotarians to Guatemala January 5-12, 2017 to spend time with Carlos Galvez to fully understand the program. They attended the Guatemalan Rotary East club meeting and also worked together to complete four stoves in schools and nine stoves in individual homes. They experienced a tremendous sense of bonding and connection with the Rotarians and families in Guatemala. They are planning two additional trips in 2018 to continue developing their connection with the program – and to build more stoves.
"While women, who do most of the cooking, are the primary benefactors of the cooking stove program, the impact of the program is much larger," said Greg. 
 
This project is an amazing way to empower women, protect the environment and improve the lives of families throughout Guatemala.