About the ProjectThe little stove with a lot of impact
Globally, nearly three billion people use polluting, inefficient stoves or open fires to cook their food.
In Guatemala, more than half of families rely on open fires to cook. This causes the smoke to fill their homes and results in severe health problems.
Approximately, one ton of firewood per-person per-year is used for cooking and heat. Collecting that much firewood takes time and energy or costs money.
The need for firewood as fuel contributes to deforestation. Guatemala loses up to 2,460 hectares of tree cover annually. As a result, deforestation brings soil erosion, loss of animal habitat, and fewer oxygen-producing trees.
Due to the high rate of consumption, forests and trees become increasingly scarce, and villagers must travel even further to find wood.
DWC’s LIGHT UP GUATEMALA program installs eco-stoves in homes to help stop all the harmful impacts of cooking fires. A vented stove is more environmentally friendly and can prevent a lifetime of health problems, but not everyone can afford one.
To learn amore about the benefits of a Eco Stove, Click here
In Guatemala
• Years of smoke exposure can cause pneumonia, cancer, stroke, heart disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
• Respiratory infections are among the leading causes of death in Guatemala, particularly for women and children who spend a lot of time around the fires
• An eco stove vents outside and firewood burns 70% more efficiently than open fires.
Volunteer to Make a DifferenceA Typical Workday in Guatemala
You’ll work with Open Windows Foundation in San Miguel Duenas, an agricultural community of about 12,000 people who live 15 kilometres from the tourist city of Antigua. Despite being located so close to the tourism industry, many San Miguel families barely get by. Open Windows is a dynamic, non-profit children’s learning centre that provides 2,600 kids with services and programs . This dynamic foundation also as administers an eco-stove program in their neighborhood and surrounding low-income communities.
Each day, you will work alongside like mined volunteers traveling in teams installing eco-stoves into homes in need around the community. Each stove, on average, takes a couple of hours to install. By then end of the week, you will feel the satisfaction of directly impacting the lives of all the homes you visit in the San Miguel Duenas neighborhood.
It's Not All WorkExplore the ancient UNESCO Heritage city of Antigua
You can expect a warm and humid climate during your stay in Guatemala. It’s an excellent time to visit with temperatures averaging between 20°C to 30°C (70°F to 80°F) making it comfortable for indoor or outdoor pursuits.
There is plenty to see and do. Antigua, where our volunteers stay, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its Spanish Baroque style of architecture and church ruins. The region was hit by several earthquakes in the 1700s (hence the historic ruins). Not to worry, though, there haven’t been any quakes of note in the past couple of hundred years or so.
Past teams have visited a chocolate maker, open markets, monuments, fountains, plant nurseries and even volcanoes. Some have gone for wilderness hikes or ziplining. There are lots of options for your free time.
Trip Details
Each trip is coordinated by DWC with the help of a Team Leader, who has travelled with DWC previously, is First Aid Certified, and has completed a Criminal Record Check. Your Team Leader will liaise with DWC and ensure all your questions are answered. Your Team Leader will handle all team finances through the trip and travel with you to ensure the best possible travel and volunteer experience for their team! They also facilitate fun, cultural experiences where possible, ensuring group cohesion. See your Team Leader Biography here:
Chris Visser
Chris is originally from South Africa and has worked and lived in roughly thirty countries, mainly in Southeast Asia, The Arabian Gulf, Africa, and Europe. He has experienced many cultures and enjoys engaging with rural communities. He is passionate about adding value to the lives of the people we touch through the work of DWC.
There is a transformative magic in bringing people together from different walks of life, exchanging culture, showing respect, and learning from one another. Through hands-on activities blended with philanthropy, we not only take more ownership and deliver projects collectively but also foster personal growth and enriching learning experiences. Our team should leave informed, inspired, and with a sense of gratitude for what was accomplished together while being in different parts of the world.
Travel Light Offset Your Carbon Footprint
Carbon offsets are used to compensate for the greenhouse gasses that we create through certain activities, such as flying. For every tonne of carbon released into the atmosphere, an ‘offset’ is a carefully designed project that absorbs or stores the equivalent CO2 emissions. You can choose to offset your own flight, your whole family’s, or do this as a gift for a friend.
Offset Your Carbon Footprint
Joy
Volunteer Program Manager