As alluded to in previous posts, we´ve been working on an improved cook stove project. Thanks to a recent U of M alumni, Rob Cerato, we were able to get an informed jump start on this project. Rob has been working in Peru for the past year on creating an improved cook stove that is made from locally available and accepted materials.
The notion of an improved cook stove, or cocina mejorada, is another way to say a stove with a chimney, one that doesn´t produce plumes of smoke, and cooks efficiently. Many families living in the surrounding rural areas of Puno cook using a open fire inside their homes. This requires much fuel and produces a grand amount of smoke, which is damaging and irritating to the lungs, not to mention smoke pouring into ones eyes.
With the help of our friend Dr. Ivan and his father we have been able to begin building these stoves in the campo of Huanuscuro. We began by introducing the project and explaining that we will provide supplies, the family must only have a free day and a number of adobe bricks ready for the project. Another thanks goes out the the Ginsberg center of Ann Arbor as they have provided us with a grant to fund the project. Thus we began a few fridays ago with one man who was ready to have a stove installed, many of the community members came to watch, speculate, and help out.
We´ve now built a few stoves in the village of Huanuscuro and in our final week here in Puno we plan to work alongside some of the medical students from ACEM-UNA to build more, as well as distribute the plans to the villagers before we leave.
If you click on the photo below it will lead you to an album filled with photos surrounding the stove project, including some of our testing phase at the acilo.
The notion of an improved cook stove, or cocina mejorada, is another way to say a stove with a chimney, one that doesn´t produce plumes of smoke, and cooks efficiently. Many families living in the surrounding rural areas of Puno cook using a open fire inside their homes. This requires much fuel and produces a grand amount of smoke, which is damaging and irritating to the lungs, not to mention smoke pouring into ones eyes.
With the help of our friend Dr. Ivan and his father we have been able to begin building these stoves in the campo of Huanuscuro. We began by introducing the project and explaining that we will provide supplies, the family must only have a free day and a number of adobe bricks ready for the project. Another thanks goes out the the Ginsberg center of Ann Arbor as they have provided us with a grant to fund the project. Thus we began a few fridays ago with one man who was ready to have a stove installed, many of the community members came to watch, speculate, and help out.
We´ve now built a few stoves in the village of Huanuscuro and in our final week here in Puno we plan to work alongside some of the medical students from ACEM-UNA to build more, as well as distribute the plans to the villagers before we leave.
If you click on the photo below it will lead you to an album filled with photos surrounding the stove project, including some of our testing phase at the acilo.
click me!
Con amor,
Erin
Erin
