Our Story
WHY COOKSTOVES?
In eighth grade, I stumbled across a National Geographic article titled, “Three Billion People Cook Over Open Fires — With Deadly Consequences.” The statistics were staggering; millions of people exposed daily to toxic smoke, suffering respiratory illnesses, and contributing to widespread deforestation, all from something as ordinary as cooking dinner. Yet the article also offered a spark of hope in the form of clean cookstove technologies that could drastically reduce emissions while improving health outcomes. Intrigued, I began researching how these stoves worked and whether I, as a teen, could play a role in scaling their impact. That search led me to the ONIL stove, a thermally efficient, low-carbon-emitting model already transforming lives across rural Latin America.
Determined to move from research to action, a classmate and I reached out to HELPS International, a Guatemala-based nonprofit that both produces and installs ONIL stoves. HELPS had already installed hundreds of thousands of ONIL stoves throughout the country. Their mission – to deliver practical solutions with measurable environmental and social benefits – resonated deeply with me. What began as a simple curiosity evolved into a long-term commitment. Since then, I have been working closely with HELPS, raising awareness, funds, and support for their mission. In learning how something as humble as a stove could change both human and environmental outcomes, I found the starting point for what would become my most meaningful journey yet.
PARTNER ORGANIZATION
HELPS International is a nonprofit organization based in Guatemala that began as a humanitarian aid group focused on improving the quality of life in underserved communities through medical missions, education, and economic development. Over time, their mission evolved as they recognized a critical and often overlooked issue affecting the people they served: the health dangers caused by traditional open-fire cooking. Many individuals, especially women and children, were suffering from severe burns and chronic respiratory illnesses due to indoor smoke exposure and unsafe stove designs. In response, HELPS developed and began deploying the ONIL cookstove—a safer, more efficient alternative designed to reduce smoke, prevent burns, and use less firewood. What started as a medical concern became a major pillar of their work, and today, cookstove deployment is one of HELPS’ most impactful programs, combining public health, environmental sustainability, and economic relief into one scalable solution.
VISION & PLAN
Through workshops, learning modules and experiential trips, we educate others on pressing environmental challenges, the science behind clean cookstoves, and the economics of carbon offsetting. These lessons culminate in immersive trips to Guatemala, where students engage directly in deployment of ONIL stoves alongside HELPS International. For many participants, it is their first direct experience with sustainability and international development.
Our focus lies in the technical and logistical implementation of clean cookstove technology, specifically through the deployment of the ONIL stove. The goal is not only to expand the number of stoves installed in underserved communities but also to create a replicable model that integrates environmental impact, health improvement, and education. Through data collection, emission tracking, and ongoing collaboration with HELPS International, we aim to refine deployment strategies and expand our reach to even more communities.
A significant aspect of our current work involves assisting HELPS with its transition under Article 6.4 of the Paris Agreement, which establishes a framework for trading emissions reductions as Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs). HELPS holds a large reserve of verified carbon credits from past cookstove projects and with our support, they are in the process of converting these credits into ITMOs – assets recognized under international climate agreements and valued far higher than traditional offsets. If successful, this effort could generate up to $20 million in new revenue for HELPS, funds that would directly support expanded stove deployment, stimulate local economies, and further reduce global emissions.
Meet Me, Elliott Eng
I am deeply committed to creating tangible, meaningful change in the world.
From an early age, I have been passionate about the environment, but I have always sought ways to move beyond theory and personal lifestyle changes to make a broader impact. That drive led me to become the co-founder of this project, focused on clean cookstove deployment, where I’ve worked hands-on in both technical and educational capacities.
I thrive at the intersection of the humanities, policy, and economics, and I am always looking for innovative ways to bridge those worlds. Outside of my projects, I love watching sports including basketball, baseball, and football as well as a variety of movies. I love spending time with my close-knit family, and I enjoy cooking, baking, and hiking in my spare time.