“I feel like a chef! I feel so fancy!” Her face was alight with joy as she cooked her first meal on her new eco-friendly stove.
The Strong Families Program in Cancun has been providing cooking lessons to moms for years over wood fires at their homes. To feed their families, this type of cooking required them to bend over and sometimes cook at 90 degrees. Smoke from the wood often escaped into their homes, as well as open fires, ashes and embers that were located in the same areas where their children played. Each mom prepared meals for her family and was vigilant about her health.
Back2Back psychologist Lili Camacho took note of the pains in the backs, knees, and hips of the women and looked into ways to make the task easier and more comfortable for them. “There were many roadblocks to getting the stoves,” shared Amy Kelly, Back2Back staff. “Lilli never quit advocating for the moms and their needs; she was tenacious in finding the most affordable option and didn’t stop until they were hand delivered.”
Lili’s research paid off. 20 moms were awarded eco stoves to use for cooking. The wood was used to make the stoves.
