What We Do
Since 2014, the Midland-based Stove Team has annually supported a group of volunteers to travel to Mayan communities in northern Guatemala to install vented stoves and water filters, in coordination with HELPS International.
These basic enhancements reduce the incidence of respiratory illness and other health problems and also cut the time or money spent obtaining firewood.
Community Development Benefits
Many Guatemalans face health risks every day, in their own homes and schools. The open fires traditionally used for cooking inside homes lead to devastating respiratory problems and severe burns. At especially high risk are children under age 5, for whom acute respiratory infection is a leading cause of death. Meanwhile, due to a high incidence of waterborne disease in Guatemala, millions lack access to clean drinking water.
That’s why we work through HELPS International to install ONIL long lasting, cost-effective products designed to meet the needs of rural families. The ONIL cook stove is a safe alternative to open fires, removing smoke from the home and reducing firewood usage by 70%. The ONIL water filter achieves 100% removal of parasites and 99.99% removal of pathogenic bacteria.
The Midland-Based Team has helped make an impact.
Along with about a dozen other Community Development teams working in Guatemalan, the Midland-Based Team - now in its 10th year - has been recognized by HELPS Leadership. You can see the testimonials below from the Guatemalan Stove & Water Filter Program Leader, the Latin America Community Development Operations Director, and the Founder of HELPS International - who started things back in 1981.
Mauricio Rosales
HELPS Community Development Program Leader thanks Midland Team
— Mauricio Rosales has worked with Midland Team since we first engaged
José Luis Loarca
HELPS Community Development Operations Director thanks Midland Team
— José Luis Loarca is the HELPS International Operations Director in Guatemala for Community Development & Agriculture
Mauricio Rosales
HELPS International Founder thanks Midland Team and supporters
— Steve Miller saw the tremendous suffering and ‘thought: I have to do something. I don’t know what, but I have to do something’.
https://www.helpsintl.org/our-founder/
