2014 Update - Buenas Noches and El Pacayal Stove Project Completed

Hi All - 

It has been a long time since I updated the Honduras Stove Project blog.   My apologies!

After finishing work in El Injerto, we moved on to build eco-stoves in Buenas Noches and El Pacayal, adding 72 completed eco-stoves in the region served by the Remote Village Project of the Virginia Medical Center Brigade.  These two communities are inaccessible by road, requiring a steep hike from the end of the passable road in Resumidero.  They are also incredibly picturesque.

 View of Buenas Noches from Above

Roof of the School Visible on Right

Health Study

For these villages, we added a significant additional facet – a study of the impact of eco-stoves on the lung function of school-age children in Buenas Noches.  We gathered all of the school children together and two doctors from Georgetown University, Dr. Wolfgang Rennert and Dr. Michelle Porras, conducted lung function tests.

Drs. Rennert and Porras with Nelson Martinez Discuss

Lung Function Tests with the Community

Dr. Porras Noting Study Data

Dr. Rennert Testing Lung Capacity

The same team returned six months later and took the same measurements for the same children.  The test results showed a strong improvement in lung function among the children of Buenas Noches. 

Pre-Existing Conditions

Below are some photos of conditions in homes of Buenas Noches before we began constructing the new eco-stoves.  Smoke and soot were evident.

The Eco-Stove Project

The stove project itself went much as it did in Planes, Playitas and El Injerto, beginning with community meetings and the transport of materials by mule and by hand from the end of the road.  

 Nelson and Community Leader Stacking Planchas

 Here I Am with a Woman Getting Ready 

to Fill Her Bag with Bricks

Packing a Bag of Bricks to Carry Home

Chatting with a Heavy Load 

As Though It Were Nothing!

Construction Proceeded as in the other villages, so I will not add a bunch of new pictures of the construction process.  Instead, here are a few photographs of completed stoves in Buenas Noches and El Pacayal.  They speak for themselves.

Next Phase

After a hiaitus, we are now in the final planning stages to begin building eco-stoves in the villages of San Antonio la Libertád, San Antonio de Cañas and Los Lirios.  The project's local support from the office of the Alcalde of Comayagua, falls under its special programs targeted at providing assistance to women.  In the three villages, we have signed up 154 women to have eco-stoves in their homes. Transport and construction will begin in early December, 2014.