03/10/2022
Press Release
Esperanza Project in Collaboration with The Inspiration Center and Women for Peace, Justice, & Equality Donates Improved Wood Burning Stoves in Rural Villages in the Toledo District
Belize City, Belize ---Monday, October 3rd, 2022
Over the weekend, the Esperanza Project in collaboration with The Inspiration Center and Women for Peace, Justice, & Equality donated and installed improved wood burning stoves in rural villages in the Toledo district.
The goal is to improve health and safety in the homes of the recipient families. The traditional indoor fire hearth used in many rural homes in our country causes numerous health problems. In the short term, inhaling wood smoke can cause headaches and irritation of the eyes, throat, lungs, and sinuses. It can also have more serious effects such as reduced lung function, exacerbating existing lung disease and increased risk of heart attacks and cancer.
Although indoor fire hearths can have a negative impact on all family members, babies and pregnant women are at the highest risk. Children are more at risk of developing health issues from wood smoke than adults because their respiratory systems are still developing. They also inhale more air since they are generally more active than adults.
The stoves that were installed redirect the smoke outside the family homes and uses 50% less wood than the traditional fire hearths, thereby having a positive health and economic effect for beneficiary families.
Many thanks to our sponsors Copal Tree Lodge, The Family Coppola Hideaways and The Ellysian Boutique Hotel.
END
Press Release
Esperanza Project in Collaboration with The Inspiration Center and Women for Peace, Justice, & Equality Donates Improved Wood Burning Stoves in Rural Villages in the Toledo District
Belize City, Belize ---Monday, October 3rd, 2022
Over the weekend, the Esperanza Project in collaboration with The Inspiration Center and Women for Peace, Justice, & Equality donated and installed improved wood burning stoves in rural villages in the Toledo district.
The goal is to improve health and safety in the homes of the recipient families. The traditional indoor fire hearth used in many rural homes in our country causes numerous health problems. In the short term, inhaling wood smoke can cause headaches and irritation of the eyes, throat, lungs, and sinuses. It can also have more serious effects such as reduced lung function, exacerbating existing lung disease and increased risk of heart attacks and cancer.
Although indoor fire hearths can have a negative impact on all family members, babies and pregnant women are at the highest risk. Children are more at risk of developing health issues from wood smoke than adults because their respiratory systems are still developing. They also inhale more air since they are generally more active than adults.
The stoves that were installed redirect the smoke outside the family homes and uses 50% less wood than the traditional fire hearths, thereby having a positive health and economic effect for beneficiary families.
Many thanks to our sponsors Copal Tree Lodge, The Family Coppola Hideaways and The Ellysian Boutique Hotel.
END
Laura Tucker-Longsworth Judith Alpuche Kim Simplis Karen P. Bevans Sharon Young
