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El Palmar, Guatemala - STIAP - July 2008 |
From July 21-27, International Programs
Director José Luis Zárate García and
International Programs Coordinator Jose
Carlos Leon Vargas spent nine days
visiting Coffee Kids’ counterparts, the
Chajulense Association and Union of
Independent Workers of Alianza Ranch
(STIAP) in Guatemala.
STIAP’s biodiesel production project began in 2005 with the help of a volunteer and researchers from the University of San Carlos in Quetzaltenango. In 2007 the community was producing 100 gallons per week, but this year Coffee Kids provided funds for a new reactor that was built by the community and they now produce 134 gallons per week.
During the first day at El Palmar, a talented high school student, who is in charge of the processing, explained the details of transforming used kitchen oil into fuel. He also told us how the community plans to use its lower-quality macadamia nuts to produce biodiesel reducing the need for large quantities of used oil from restaurants and shops.
STIAP cultivates macadamia nuts for national sale and export, but some of these nuts are rejected and can be used in the production of biodiesel. STIAP has also created a youth group interested in biodiesel production to ensure a healthy future for the program. At the meeting, these 10 students, ages 12 to 18, told us that the most experienced from the group are now training others in the production process.
Our stay in El Palmar provided us with a clear picture of how a community can link different projects to improve the overall living conditions of its people. The biodiesel not only provides a cleaner fuel for the cars, but it also feeds the generator that provides electricity to the community and its eco-hotel, nut-sorting machinery, water purification plant and administrative offices.
For information on their eco-hostel, visit the community's Web site for more information.
STIAP’s biodiesel production project began in 2005 with the help of a volunteer and researchers from the University of San Carlos in Quetzaltenango. In 2007 the community was producing 100 gallons per week, but this year Coffee Kids provided funds for a new reactor that was built by the community and they now produce 134 gallons per week.
During the first day at El Palmar, a talented high school student, who is in charge of the processing, explained the details of transforming used kitchen oil into fuel. He also told us how the community plans to use its lower-quality macadamia nuts to produce biodiesel reducing the need for large quantities of used oil from restaurants and shops.
STIAP cultivates macadamia nuts for national sale and export, but some of these nuts are rejected and can be used in the production of biodiesel. STIAP has also created a youth group interested in biodiesel production to ensure a healthy future for the program. At the meeting, these 10 students, ages 12 to 18, told us that the most experienced from the group are now training others in the production process.
Our stay in El Palmar provided us with a clear picture of how a community can link different projects to improve the overall living conditions of its people. The biodiesel not only provides a cleaner fuel for the cars, but it also feeds the generator that provides electricity to the community and its eco-hotel, nut-sorting machinery, water purification plant and administrative offices.
For information on their eco-hostel, visit the community's Web site for more information.
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items are from between 25 Jul 2008 & 27 Jul 2008.
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