Now confined to tiny spaces, extended families with children home from school and parents home from work, cooking for more hours per day than ever experienced before, all while emitting toxic levels of smoke daily, the need for new stoves is urgent. 

After 2 months in India this year, cramming every possible moment with preparations for what is needed next, Ann welcomes Wendy, one of our board members, to continue support for the installation team in Kodaikanal, India.

Ann Peck, Executive Director

Wendy and her husband Kris have spent a lifetime teaching at international schools in India and Pakistan. Now retired, they return to Kodaikanal every year to work with the smokeless stove project.

Thanks to Ann, Selvam and Sheela, I was able to visit a school we partner with, a local Montessori school in Perumalmalai, just down the mountain from Kodai. "This school provides underprivileged children from local villages with education and development support and takes care of the children's basic needs for nutrition, shoes and a uniform" (Montessori School Sponsorship information pamphlet).

I absolutely loved visiting the school with Sheela and teaching the children an original song, titled "Smoke Out!", about smokeless stoves in their local language, Tamil. The children were motivated, interested, had so much fun learning about the importance of clean air.

I was also invited to teach the older children, ages 7 to 14, during their after school outreach program. When these children tell their parents about the new smokeless stove (and share their new song!), Selvam is contacted and the process of installation begins for a new family.