Local shutterbug captures spirit of recent trip to Guatemala
by LIANNE LAHAIE-TYSICK
The Perth Courier Aug. 3 2005
It isn't hard to tell that David Zimmerly believes in the old adage that a picture is worth a thousand words.
In February of this year, Mr. Zimmerly had the opportunity to travel to some of the destitute villages in Guatemala which have been aided by the Guatemala Stove Project. The project began six years ago, when an indigenous non-profit group known as CEDEC identified the need for masonry cookstoves in several Guatemalan communities.
Despite the growing need for the cookstoves, the residents of these villages lacked the basic human and material resources to build them. Thus, the Guatemala Stove Project was born and since 1999, groups of dedicated local volunteers have been travelling to remote impoverished Mayan villages to provide residents with masonry cookstoves.
"I've been to South America before, but this is the first time I participated in the Guatemala Stove Project," Mr. Zimmerly explained. "I had heard a lot about (the project) and it intrigued me. I wanted to get involved somehow."
Because of Mr. Zimmerly's rather extensive background in photography (he has spent a vast amount of time photographing people from different cultures as part of his career in anthropology),
Tom Clarke, one of the founders and co-ordinators of the Guatemala Stove Project, asked him to bring his trusty digital camera in an effort to chronicle the trip in photographs.
"Tom wanted me to take pictures of everything," Mr. Zimmerly remarked. "He wanted pictures of the stoves, the people, the villages, the homes, the work volunteers were doing...everything. The other volunteers stayed for a week but I stayed for about three. I ended up taking well over 4,000 photos."
Mr. Zimmerly said he had "the best job of anyone" and enjoyed seeing how delighted the Mayans were when they received their stove kits and, with help from volunteers, began building them.
"They were so happy and excited," he recalled. "There were women, with babies on their backs, carrying these stove kits to their homes. They were just so pleased and grateful to be receiving such a gift. It was an amazing sight to see."
For centuries, the Mayans have cooked on three-stone fires built on the dirt floors of their kitchens. As a result, homes were continuously filled with toxic smoke which can cause a plethora of serious health problems.
"It's terrible," Mr. Zimmerly commented. "You see people with eye and respiratory problems and children with severe burns. (In Canada) if you have cataracts, you go to a doctor and have them removed. It's not that simple there with no access to medical care."
The cookstoves serve to eliminate many health problems because smoke travels through the stove pipe, leaving the home virtually smoke-free. The general health of those living in the home is significantly improved.
"When we see people who are impoverished, we often don't realize that they do have a life," Mr. Zimmerly said. "These stoves help make that life better for them...they improve their quality of life."
He said he thoroughly enjoyed his time meeting the Maya and watching them while they went about their daily routine, which often included weaving and making tortillas. He captured everything with his digital camera and now has some of his photos on display in the windows of Edward Jones here in Perth. The photos will be on display until the end of September.
"I really did have a great time and I would certainly like to participate (in the project) again," Mr. Zimmerly said. "It really was an amazing experience for me and I'm glad I was given the chance to participate in such a great project."