Greetings Readers,
Since my arrival in Guatemala on March 1st, life has been a whirlwind of change and adaptation. The coronavirus pandemic has been in full force for the past six months, and the borders and airport are still tightly closed. There’s speculation that flights will resume on September 18, but who knows, is the honest truth. Recently, Guatemala’s president Alejandro Giammattei made a comment saying that normal life may not resume until next year, and that makes me wonder if he’s hinting at something.
Children in the town of Santiago Zamora, Guatemala
My town of Santiago Zamora is still here, and people are still walking around and wondering what will happen next. Masks are still mandatory, although most people wear them incorrectly, and we still have a nightly curfew from 9pm to 4am. I have secured my routine that makes sure I am home, winding down, well before 9pm and have started waking up early. My town is more of a sleepy little town; we hear the real problems are in Guatemala City. Coronavirus cases are on the rise but the government is hasty to reopen the business sector since that’s the country’s moneymaker. We used to hear a daily update of cases but now that number is harder to find, at least an accurate one. Also, there are more questions being asked about government expenditures during the past six months, which is exposing more of the nation’s corruption.
Stove technician Freddy Sanail installs a chimney for a Justa stove in Santiago Zamora, Guatemala
Closer to my home, the town of Antigua is slowly reopening and welcoming more tourists. I visited Antigua in April and the colonial town was dead quiet and nothing was really open besides banks and supermarkets. Now, cars line the streets and people are out and about. Parks and restaurants are open, but it’s obvious the pandemic has affected life for people who sell items or food — there are no international tourists. Guatemala City folks are coming in waves and enjoying Antigua’s charm to escape from the city life; but the international community is still unable to return. Tourism has been hurt, but Guatemalans are innovative and industrious; and have found ways to make it work. Food delivery is in full force and many mom-and-pop restaurants have opened to serve the needs of those stuck at home with tasty treats. Now, you literally can sit at home and have everything delivered to your doorstep for free; innovation at its best. But schools and colleges remain shut, and most people haven’t been able to work for the past five months.
Lots of changes have occurred since I arrived, including the start of the Justa (pronounced “hoo-stuh”) Stove pilot project, where my team is building fixed-griddle stoves in houses in Santiago Zamora.
The Justa stove is fixed in place inside the home, includes a chimney, and can accommodate multiple pots at once.
The Justa project has taken shape over the past weeks as we build our team and overcome challenges including how to persuade families to change their old ways. Dressed spiffy, we have been knocking on doors with our red “StoveTeam: Justa Project” polo shirts, presenting a brochure with information about the Justa stove and trying to sign people up for a building date. Sometimes I feel that we are vacuum cleaner salespeople! We have met a plethora of people who are excited about what we are offering, the community is excited to benefit from a project that eliminates smoke from kitchens. The main points that I shared with my team: Be confident, politely explain the benefits of the stove, and make a connection with the family members.
I am noticing a common quote from families: “No smoke? Are you serious, no smoke?”
Stove technicians Freddy Sanail and Betty Hernández provide a pamphlet about the Justa stove to a prospective stove recipient.
One neighbor of mine, Doña Lesbia, wanted a stove but couldn’t figure out where to build the block base. We visited her house, explained our process and suggested a base location. She said, “When can you build it?”
Now each time I walk by her house, there are at least 4 pots in use and something sizzling.
People are curious and interested and wanting to change; and are especially excited that our project is being offered to everyone! I learned a challenging reality upon my arrival in March that Santiago Zamora lacks an industry of any sort, and is at the end of the bus line, which means few job opportunities. Most foreigners in the area say that the best thing we can do for these communities is to create jobs, and that’s my local goal.
Two technicians can build four Justa stoves per day.
My small team of one office administrator and two stove builders are ecstatic to be working in their hometown with prospects for long-term employment.
I have told my workers that as we grow, we need to find trustworthy, responsible laborers from Santiago Zamora before looking outside. An ongoing challenge in Guatemala is finding a decent job with a salary that pays the bills, and sadly the lack thereof results in violence and illegal emigration to the United States. Last week, I was sitting in a house with my workers as they built a new Justa for a neighbor, and we discussed how a person can earn one month’s Guatemalan salary in a single day in the United States. The price of land and home construction here are costly too, which persuades people to look for opportunities elsewhere.
It’s a learning experience and slowly we are growing and covering more households with the goal of building 3,000 stoves by the end of 2021.
Until next time, Alex
Alex Eaton is StoveTeam’s International Program Coordinator. He lives full-time in Santiago Zamora, Guatemala. Contact Alex.