60% of households in Guatemala cook exclusively with wood. For households, participation in WCK's Clean Cooking program began with the installation of a monitor to measure how often the wood stove was used. Installing the monitor was the first step towards transitioning households to cooking with a LPG stove. The data collected provided a baseline for how often wood was used to cook and if the household was able to transition fully to modern energy cooking. Once initial data collection was completed, cooks would participate in capacity building activities that empowered the to safely use LPG stoves. 

Gloria took part in several days of training, learning how to safely install and use a gas stove and cook with pressure cookers to increase the efficiency of her stove. She also learned how to prepare traditional Guatemalan recipes with a pressure cooker and culinary techniques and food handling skills to become a better, safer cook. After completing her training, Gloria received a gas stove, an installation kit, an LPG cylinder, a pressure cooker, and a comal–a pan traditionally used for making tortillas.

After receiving a WCK stove, pressure cooker, and training, Ana María fully transitioned to cooking with her LPG stove — she says the training was invaluable. Having never cooked with LPG, Ana María was unsure how much of an impact the transition would have on her daily life. Now, her eyes don't become irritated every time she needs to cook a meal, and she is saving money as LPG is cheaper than wood. Additionally, not having to tend a wood stove has freed up several hours to pursue personal interests. One unexpected benefit is that she can now also indulge her sweet tooth. Cooking cakes over a wood fire was not possible, and cakes are usually expensive and reserved for very special occasions. Now, with her pressure cooker she prepares banana cake - her family’s favorite - on a weekly basis.