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 means of income of the 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 stoves with biomass.
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 stoves reduces firewood use, reduces carbon emissions, and also expels harmful gases out of users' homes. This reduces air pollution inside homes, a major cause of various heart and lung diseases in rural communities. Now, families can enjoy themselves without putting their health or 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 an innovative way. Switching to improved stoves reduces firewood use, decreases carbon emissions and expels toxic gases out of users' homes. This dramatically reduces air pollution inside homes.
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A healthy home for all
Utsil Naj, which means “a healthy home for all” in Mayan, was established in 2012 and includes Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. The implementation of the programs in each country is tailored to the characteristics and needs of its inhabitants.
Honduras Project
This approach has allowed Utsil Naj – Honduras to remain sustainable and generate lasting benefits for almost 10 years. The project has made a low-carbon contribution grant, which corresponds to 91 thousand euros issued to different partners for the sustainability of their initiatives. Currently, the project is present in eleven regions in Honduras: Atlántida, Comayagua, Copan, Cortes, Francisco, Morazán, Lempira, Ocotepeque, Santa, Barbara and Yoro. In addition to the environmental impacts generated by the project, Utsil Naj has been giving rise to profound social and economic impacts on each of the families, allowing them to stay safe.
Social impact
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 they spend outside collecting firewood, these families stay safe and can invest their time in academic or economic pursuits.
IMPACT SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PROGRAM
Este Programa está certificado por el prestigioso 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 stove are very good, because, first of all, the food is tastier and I save a lot of firewood. “I have been using this stove for many years and it is very useful for me.”
Maria Guerra Manchame
“I cooked on a stove, those (that are) made of earth (campfire), but since they gave me the improved stove 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