Smokeless stoves saving lives in 1,250 households

As promised, we are excited to send you an update about work on the smokeless stoves project in Kericho county, Kenya.  We also take this opportunity to thank you again for your support of the April Climate Action campaign which got a fantastic response.

This update and photographs taken in April and May are from Reuben Koskei who has worked with Brighter Communities Worldwide since 2005.  Reuben’s role includes training Community Health Volunteers as stove installers and co-ordinating installation of smokeless stoves.

To date 73 volunteers have been trained this year (40 men and 33 women), at workshops that take place over 4 days with small numbers of around 15 participants in each.  These volunteers have learned about the need for smokeless stoves to protect health and reduce impact on the environment.  They are familiar with how to undertake household surveys to measure the impact of the stoves.  They learned how the design of the stove extracts the smoke and burns less wood.  Finally, they went out and built stoves putting the theory into action under the watchful eye of skilled installers.  Each stove takes half a day to install and to date 650 stoves have been installed. 

Follow up surveys of households that had stoves installed 6 months ago were also undertaken in April and May.  One of the householders said “I am enjoying smokeless stove which I have in use for almost 6 months.  I am very happy about it since it's cooking quicker, using less firewood and is smokeless”.

Schools also cook over open fires to provide hot food and chai for the children and the teachers  To create a healthier school environment we partner with schools sharing the costs of installing smokeless stoves. 

One such stove was completed at the end of May at Murao Secondary and the school principal Mr Jugo, had this to say in thanking Brighter Communities – “ It is with a high regard for your contribution towards the wellbeing of the Murao Secondary school fraternity that I write to say thank you. The installation of the smokeless jiko in the school kitchen is a great relief. Previously the school used the traditional stone "jikoni" which was smoky, dusty and generally unhygienic. With the improved jiko, comes the neccessary hygiene and an immediate relief from smoke for our Cooks. The smoke free nature of the improved jiko, assures us of an improved quality of cooked food. Especially in terms of palatability and food hygiene.  The improved jiko also has with it the advantage of using less firewood to prepare meals. This is of great significance to the school in terms of savings in funds previously used for he supply of firewood. Add to that end the fact that we will save our small forest. Our environment is therefore saved from destruction. We will forever remain grateful for your generous support and care for our wellness. Thank you.”

Seems a fitting end to this update.  Thank you again for supporting this project, changing lives and creating better futures!  

 We will be participating in the GlobalGiving July Bonus Day Match Fund on Wednesday July 14^th.  Donations over €80 will be matched from 2pm (Irish time) on that day and the higher the amount donated, the higher the match while funds last.