The International Esperanza Project (IEP) was founded in 2017 with the mission of inspiring hope in people in the developing world through healthcare, community development and education.
Like many, people in the Guatemalan Highlands traditionally cook over open fire. According to Clean Cooking Alliance, open fire cooking accounts for “one-quarter of global black carbon emissions, the second largest contributor to climate change after carbon dioxide.” Not only does black carbon have significant environmental impacts—the smoke it embodies can be devastating to the health of those exposed.
A single open cooking fire typically produces around 400 cigarettes worth of smoke every hour. Fires are frequently built indoors, where toxic fumes and soot can accumulate and have major health impacts, especially for children. To mitigate this, IEP is installing clean-burning in-home wood stoves and providing easy access to clean water through affordable filtration systems in Guatemala. The stoves are reducing CO2 levels to ensure healthy homes with decent airflow and decreased health risks. IEP is recording data to track the impact of the project to find out how the positive impacts are rippling out into the world.
All photos by The International Esperanza Project
