Utsil Naj - Honduras
Improved Cookstoves help families in Honduras stay healthy and face the challenges of climate change
Context
Central America is one of the regions most affected by climate change in the world. Particularly Honduras, since it is located in the “Dry Corridor”, a region vulnerable to the effects of climate change. This threatens the security and livelihoods of communities, particularly those that depend on their crops as a source of income and food. A significant proportion of these rural communities still cook on open biomass stoves.
This reality is even more alarming in Honduras, since 80% in rural communities use firewood for cooking and families congregate very close to the smoke from the open fire.
The Utsil Naj Honduras Project seeks to address these challenges in an innovative way. Switching to Improved Cookstoves reduces the use of firewood, decreases carbon emissions, and also expels harmful gases out of the users' homes. This reduces indoor air pollution, a major cause of various heart and lung diseases in rural communities. Now, families can enjoy their foods without putting their health and the environment at risk.
Program details
WHERE AND WHEN:
Honduras, Central America - 2013
TECHNOLOGY:
Improved Cookstoves
PROGRAM CERTIFICATION:
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
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Project / Honduras
The Utsil Naj Project in Honduras seeks to address these challenges in innovative ways. Switching to Improved Cookstoves reduces the use of firewood, reduces carbon emissions, and expels toxic gases out of users' homes. This significantly reduces indoor air pollution.
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A healthy home for all
The Utsil Naj Program, which means “A healthy home for all” in Mayan, was established in 2012 and includes projects in the countries of Mexico, Guatemala and Honduras. The implementation of the projects in each country is tailored to the characteristics and needs of its people.
Honduras Project
This approach has allowed Utsil Naj - Honduras to remain sustainable and generate lasting benefits for more than 10 years. The project has made a low-carbon contribution, corresponding to approximately 91 thousand euros issued to different partners for the sustainability of their initiatives. To date, the project has taken place in eleven regions in Honduras: Atlántida, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, Francisco, Morazán, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Santa, Barbara and Yoro.
Social impact
In addition to the environmental impacts generated by the project, Utsil Naj has been resulting in profound social and economic impacts on each family, allowing them to remain safe. This is particularly important in Honduras, as communities face threats from organized crime and drug trafficking. Women and girls are often tasked with collecting firewood, potentially exposing them to dangerous situations. By reducing the time spent outside collecting firewood, these families stay safe and can invest their time in academic or economic activities.
IMPACT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM
This program is certified by the prestigious Gold Standard. The positive impacts on our communities and our planet are carefully measured and reported as contributions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), defined by the United Nations Organization.
Beneficiaries
“The benefits of this cookstove are very good, because, first of all, the food is tastier and I save a lot of firewood. I have been using this cookstove for many years and it is very useful for me.”
Maria Guerra Manchame
“I cooked on a open cookstove, those (that are) made of earth (campfire), but since they gave me the Improved Cookstove I prepare everything there. There I make beans, corn, food. The truth is that I do things faster, it uses less firewood and it doesn't smoke much. It's excellent."
Maria Martinez Cruz