September 5 - Success Continues with Oven-Building in Monte Horet
In the community of Monte Horet women have been learning how to construct their own solar ovens and then go about building them. Over 25 of these ovens have been built so far, with more planned. PGL collaborates with FUPROSOMUNIC, an organization that brings its experience with solar stove construction and organizes the workshops for the women. PGL has provided approximately $2,500 for materials and workshop costs. The women provide their labor for the construction. In addition, for Monte Horet a loan fund has been established to provide for the purchase of wood-conserving stoves. The stoves vary in price depending on the type, but the model most of the women like comes to 1,800 cordobas, or about $85 each. These stoves are purchased up-front by PGL. Then PGL bears half the cost of each stove, while the other half is loaned to each woman acquiring a stove, and the women deposit their payments in what becomes a permanent revolving loan fund for additional women to acquire wood-conserving or solar ovens. Greg Bowles, PGL In-country Coordinator reports that this loan program "has been very successful. Every single woman has paid back the loan, either all of the installments, or some just went ahead and paid it off all at once."