The Graduation and our Stove family project

My training group! We are all a mix of three Peace Corps programs. Appropriate Technology, Small Business, and Youth Development.

What can I say? There were tears, hugs and sad goodbyes. Then the entire training group was off to get wasted before they left for their new sites for two years. Well... not for us Xenacoj boys . Being the kind-hearted almas that we were, it was our determination to return to Xenacoj and finish what we started: Our wood efficient burning stove that prevents an open fire and smoke accumulating in the cocina.Here is the problem: Our adoring host sisters tortilla with an open flame. It is because of this one of them has burn marks on her right arm from the fire. Not to mention, respiratory disease can become a problem from chronic exposure to kitchen smoke. This is the number one cause of dreath among Guatemalans!
Ah yes, I was more then excited to help out...
Vuahla! I meant to put a family portrait here in front of the finished stove but >I cannot find it. I wanted to show you how happy everyone was to see it finished (minus the chimney - the most important part). You get the idea though. Imagine a metal chimney extending to the roof. It took us about 2.0 days of straight building. That night we meet up with our fellow training group and PARTIED in Antigua (pic not shown)!

San Antonio Aldea - Our training project

During our Appropriate Technology training we were assigned to build a final project. For us we were sent to San Antonio, a small Aldea of Xenacoj (my training pueblo in the mountains near the capital). We discussed the needs of the community and decided to build a water can-catchment roof to provide water for the existing latrine at the small local primary school. We had to develop a budget, buy materials, get the community involved, and build it ALL IN SPANISH! After months of planning, preparation and building (and screwing up) we finished! In the final photo is me with John, Tony, and our trainer Lynn and John´s host Dad Luis.