Idioma:

Sabrina Bland

Gratitude Coordinator. Sabrina has been a part of the Amigos story since it began, and she is truly grateful that she is able to tell the story of impact to our family with photographs, videos, stories, and art. Though trained as a nurse, she believes her work now is the same- she can bring healing and hope into people’s lives by allowing them to see their involvement in Amigos as God does – with deep joy that they are bringing about the Kingdom here and now for families in Nicaragua.

What a kitchen can do ?

What happens to a girl who helps her mom in Nicaragua every day?

She cleans. She watches siblings. She cooks.

Her days are filled with helpful work, but also placing her health in jeopardy. We all know the risk of smoke inhalation for the mostly women who cook every day. Some women have permanent lung damage – leaving them with some serious issues later in life.

But the reality is that in very rural communities, cooking on open flames is a requirement. A classic gas tank costs around $15 for each refill, and the initial investment is $65. A 2-burner gas stove top will run close to $100. Electric ranges exist, but electricity in Nicaragua is 4 times the cost per kilowatt hour compared to the USA. Cooking beans would be exorbitant! And then there is the dilemma of getting the gas tank refilled out in a rural area. All costs rise when there is transportation involved.

Emiliana’s family lives in Pedregal, which is about 40 minutes from the closest town of El Viejo. Emiliana’s daughter Reyna, is her helper. Her husband left the home to work, but he can only provide financial support sporadically. Without access to a stove, cooking in the rainy season became a muddy, smoke-filled daily ritual on the dirt floor.

Every person that cooks over an open flame suffers from respiratory problems. Our kitchen model features a smokeless stove and a tiled food preparation area that helps prevent sickness and disease caused by unhealthy food preparation conditions.

Smoke, mud, soot and constant hygiene issues. Not the way a 15-year-old wanted to spend her time. Emiliana and Reyna were desperate for a stove.

“I help my mom because I love her. Our granddad helps us a little and gave us a pig so we could sell the piglets to help buy the stove.”

Reyna

As of late January, their new stove was done. The Amigos team can build one in a week and after a few weeks of ‘curing’ it is ready to use.

Reyna proudly cooks. Her mom is free for other endeavors such as raising piglets and harvesting fruit from their yard to sell. And Reyna, a high school sophomore, can study without smoke in her eyes.

Reyna is the family lunch chef, jauntily posing with real pride and joy. Her role as cook has become a source of self-confidence, dignity and creativity as a member of her family.

“I love to cook now,” Reyna beams. “I feel like a queen in our kitchen!”

Find Out More!

Read more about our Clean Air Kitchen project

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