Climate Action Madagascar Project #43503

Improved cookstoves prevent deforestation

by Zahana

Improved cookstoves prevent deforestation

Project Report | Apr 24, 2021
Update: Our latest improved cookstove video

By Markus Faigle | Volunteer Project Director

Our improved cookstove team on the open road

A picture tells a thousand words they say. The photos in our video are mostly from 2020 and 2021.

Please watch How to build your own improved cookstove in rural Madagascar from April 2021 in conjunction with this report.

Our team that conducts the workshops about improved cookstoves and homemade production of bio-charcoal briquettes has been very busy in the past year, despite the difficulties of COVID-19 lockdown measures and subsequent restrictions.

To date they successfully conducted workshops in 10 villages. All of that literally on foot in early 2020 walking to the villages and later zipping along with their spiffy new zahana bicycles.

Buying bicycles for our team not only increased mobility tremendously, but also boosted the morale and infused them with new energy and dedication. As an added benefit it made the visit to the villages safer for them. They travel as a group in the daylight hours because it is not safe to travel after dark.

To honor their commitment, they got a very special Christmas bonus this year. In an envelope each of them got an image of a bicycle. After opening it, they were not sure what to make of it, because most likely they were hoping for a crisp new bill as a culturally customary cash bonus. When they were told that the bicycles were theirs to keep for good they were flabbergasted. After all, they were prepared to pay us back for the bicycles over the next two years from their salaries. A good mountain bike in Madagascar cost more than a two month’s salary, and this bonus is a ‘really big deal’.

Taking the shortest route in rural Madagascar

Almost there?

Making bio-charcoal under watchful eyes

Making bio-charcoal 'balls'

Links:

Improved Cookstoves and bio-charcoal

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Dec 22, 2020
Who can build the spiffiest improved cookstove?

By Markus Faigle | Volunteer Project Director

Nov 23, 2020
Bicycle = mobility

By Markus Faigle | Volunteer Project Director

Bicyclists arrived in the village and get admired

Maybe the proud faces with their brand-new bikes tell more than words in this report?

As an unforeseen consequence of COVID-19, our training team members are now the proud owners of bicycles. Zahana bought bicycles so they could reach the remote villages for workshops on building improved cookstoves, bio-charcoal production and reforestation. This allows them to travel on their own time and much quicker than on foot.

Private mini buses, the only public mode of transportation in Madagascar, were basically rendered nonexistent for months because of COVID-19 restrictions. In prior reports for our improved coostove project, we shared that the team had resorted to walking from their town to the villages for the workshops. Walking not only takes longer but also it leaves them more vulnerable. With bicycles they can reach the villages in a few hours compared to what before took a day or more on foot. Consequently, they can spend more time teaching than traveling. As a safety precaution they only travel in teams of two or more.

We are grateful for the Coronavirus Relief Fund from GlobalGiving and support from donors like you that make this technological mobility leap possible.

As part of our COVID-19 prevention activities we have recently posted a videoTop of FormBottom of Form ‘Learning how to wash hands with soap in rural Madagascar’ on YouTube. We hope you spend (literally) a minute watching it.

It is only prudent to mention that #GivingTuesday on December 1 is approaching fast. Ironically it falls on the same date as World AIDS Day this year. Most likely this is not the only email reminding you of that date. After all, many non-profits are scrambling for donations in these COVID-19 uncertain times and we are in good company.

For 2020 #GivingTuesday, GlobalGiving offers 1 million dollars of matching funds for 24 hours (starting 00:00 EDT). So, if you want to add something extra to your donation, this might be a good opportunity.

The funds will be distributed proportional to the total amount we raise up to a maximum of $2,500 per donation. Details of this (rather hard to explain) model can be found on the GlobalGiving website as a brain gym exercise.

A word about Monthly donors

Thank you to all of our monthly donors! Your steady support is the backbone for our activities.

If you feel so inclined, we are actively encouraging a monthly donation that spreads your total gift out over 12 months and helps us plan better for the future. Monthly donations reduce the anxiety of how much we are going to actually raise as most of the donations are received at the end-of-the year in December.

Currently your first donation gets matched by GlobalGiving 100%. As an added bonus there is a 200% match of your first month’s donation from December 14 to 18, 2020. To sweeten the deal, monthly donations also help us with the internal ranking at GlobalGiving more than a one-time donation.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Checking out the cool new tool

The team ready to go

The brand new bike

ready for the open road

Taking it for a spin

Links:

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