The process of placing Patsari stoves into people's homes and shops has been a long process, and definitely not without challenges. There was more than one failed effort as we learned to navigate barriers of change - not too unlike barriers we might face at home. Imagine a foreigner coming into your home and trying to replace your kitchen with something they say will save butterflies. I think I hear a lot of people calling the cops. Few people wanted them and some people seemed — perhaps rightfully — opposed to our efforts.
The tide began to turn when we got better at seeing the world through their eyes. The wood smoke in their homes was at least irritating, often a source of illness and occasionally a cause of death. When our efforts were directed more toward helping families rather than butterflies, things improved.
We wanted a few stoves in public places to help with their acceptance. At the entry to the butterfly reserves there are seasonal "puestos" or little shops where food and trinkets are sold to tourists. The puestos are closed down and unattended in the off-season. One of our first stoves in a puesto, built at a time of uncertain acceptance, was vandalized, completely destroyed after its first season.
During the next season, as I led a group of ECOLIFE supporters to see the butterflies, the woman who had owned the stove came running out to meet our group. Keep in mind the decision of who gets a stove is made by the community...I play no role in that. I also play no personal role in the building of each stove, so my face (I thought) is not well-known within the communities.
Her language was a combination of Spanish and her indigenous Indian tongue. We needed help with the translation. She cradled in her hand the plaque we place on each and every one of our stoves (photo below). She told how it had helped her...her husband did not have to work so hard to collect wood...she was not always choking on smoke. But her stove had been destroyed and she desperately wanted another.
Because ECOLIFE supporters are who and what they are, she has a new Patsari oven (photo below) — and so do a lot of other people. (Click images to enlarge.)
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