05/19/2026
Recently, Waleska and Jose completed a trip to Nebaj, where they visited the stoves installed in 2024 through a Rotary project led by the Palo Alto Rotary Club in California.
During their visit, they were welcomed by Manuela, who generously agreed to serve as their translator throughout the trip. Many of the families in the communities they visited primarily speak Ixil, making Manuela’s support essential in helping foster meaningful conversations and connections.
Throughout the visit, Waleska had the privilege of hearing Manuela’s story and learning more about her community through her perspective. Manuela is a single mother who works tirelessly each day to provide for her son. From Monday through Friday, she wakes up at 4 a.m. to begin preparing meals for more than 100 children at a local school before continuing with the many responsibilities of her day.
Even while helping during her days off, Manuela never complained about the long hours, the intense heat, or the nearly 10 kilometers walked each day between communities. Instead, she met every challenge with positivity, strength, and generosity. Her commitment to her community and her willingness to help others made this trip possible and reminded us that the true impact of this work comes from the people who walk alongside us.
We are excited to share more stories from this trip in the coming days. The families Waleska and Jose visited expressed deep gratitude for their stoves and shared that they continue to use them every day. Hearing their stories and seeing the lasting impact of these projects firsthand was a powerful reminder of why our work matters and how transformative a new stove can be for a family.