There were mornings there a few weeks ago, where the ice was an inch thick in the water bucket in the morning. We built the sides with block, the firebox with local fired brick, and purchased fabricated cook tops in town. The final finish was cement on top, around the outside of metal stovetop, and hi lime stucco on the sides. It was very moving. Mayan women are often blind by the age of 40 from cooking over open fires in enclosed rooms.
Children get chronic respiratory problems.
Pat and Tom asked specifically to build stoves for households where there were multiple children, in order to have to positive effect on as many childrens' lives as possible. You can help by donating money for the materials to build a stove for a family. Simply contact Pat . See also Tom Clarke's Guatemala Stove Project website. Tom organized the project.