Smokeless stoves saving lives in 1,250 households

Thank you so much for your support of the smokeless stove programme which aims to improve indoor air quality and brings enormous health benefits to the communities we work with.  As well as reducing respiratory illnesses and risk of burns, less fuel is needed which reduces the time spent by girls and women collecting firewood. Burning less firewood is also good for the environment and has a positive impact on climate change.  The smokeless stove is helping build household resilience with better health, more time for school and household activities and reduced environmental impact.

The Irish Ambassador to Kenya, Caroline Ingoldsby, along with the Deputy Irish Ambassador, Evelyn Maris, recently visited Brighter Communities Worldwide and spent time talking with community members involved in the smokeless stoves and climate change programmes.

Naima from Kenegut village in Ainamoi subcounty is a happy woman after attending Climate Change Ambassadors training by Brighter Communities Worldwide. Here is what she says ;

“I am very happy to have been trained by Brighter Communities Worldwide as a Climate Change Ambassador. This has really helped me to be able to maximise use of the small farm I have to improve my livelihood, I have been able to spread the climate change knowledge to more people from my village and they are embracing the climate change practices. I have been able to sensitise my community members on the importance of having the smokeless stove because it helps to conserve the forest.

As a Climate Change Ambassador I have been able to educate my community that smokeless stoves help households to adapt to climate risks  and that it leads to less dependence on forest which may be stressed by drought and also having a smokeless stove improves the cleanliness of the kitchen hence improving resilience of women and childrens health. Asante sana Brighter Communities Worldwide for empowering me to be a Climate Change Ambassador.”

Not  far from Naima’s village we find Florence, a trained smokeless stove installer and also the leader of Chemobei widows  group. As a smokeless stove installer and being part of a widows group Florence explains that she has become more resilient on how to deal with climate related challenges and she says, “I am a happy and empowered woman after being trained as an installer and also as economically empowered through the business training by Brighter Communities Worldwide. I am able to earn a living and sustain my family as a widow through smokeless stove installation. The skills gained during smokeless stove installation training helped me to be more resilient.

Through the economic empowerment training by Brighter Communities Worldwide, as the chairperson for Chemobei widows group our group members are happy and able to withstand, adapt to and recover from economic shocks faced as a group.  Thank you so much Brighter Communities Worldwide for considering me and my group for the trainings.” Asante sana

In the village of Kahurura in Londiani Kipkelion East, Catherine Okinda an elderly widow who stays with her 9 grandchildren could not hide her happiness after the Irish ambassador to Kenya visited her  newly installed smokeless stove. This is what she said, “I don’t know how to thank Brighter Communities Worldwide for allowing the ambassador to visit my small kitchen. I am grateful because this smokeless stove cooks so fast and there is no smoke produced, this has really helped me save time to go to the market sell my groceries and my chest will now be fine because there is no more smoke. It also used less firewood and this will save more time for me to look for money to feed and pay school fees for my school going grandchildren. Asante sana Brighter communities worldwide.”

We are excited to bring you the latest update on this project about Smokeless Stoves. Below are some recent inspiring stories of change from Beatrice Wambia, the Senior Field Officer of the Health Programme, the stories highlight the impact of the smokeless stove. 

Jacinta from the village of Nyairobi is a happy woman after having a smokeless stove installed in her kitchen. "I am very happy to have this stove installed in my kitchen, no more smoke in my kitchen, the walls of my kitchen will remain clean now, my grandchildren are safe to use this stove because it’s not dangerous for them. I now use just two pieces of firewood to cook my meals unlike the other traditional jiko (stove) which used more firewood. May God bless Brighter Communities Worldwide Asante sana”

In a nearby village of Ndubusat Central, in Kipkelion West, Lonner shares her life changing story after having a smokeless stove installed in her kitchen. "Thank you Brighter Communities Worldwide for installing this smokeless stove in my kitchen, I no longer cry while cooking for my family, I no longer have chest pains like before and my children do not cough anymore because of the smoke. This smokeless stove cooks faster than the other stove I was using and when my kids come for lunch from school they find lunch is ready. My husband can now come in the kitchen while am cooking and sit around the stove to get some heat because my kitchen is very clean and warm. Asante sana Brighter communities for helping me have this smokeless stove."

Gladys, a smokeless stove installer from Siwot village in Kipkelion West could not hide her happy face after being trained as an installer. Here is her story "I am an empowered woman now, I am an socially and economically empowered woman because through the installation of smokeless stoves in my community I can get some money from installing them which I use to buy my personal needs and even some household needs. I am able to stock my small business using the money I get from stove installations. We ensure that no mama should pay for her life while cooking for her family, Asante Sana!" 

Charera Special school in Bureti subcounty welcomed the installation of the smokeless stove in their school kitchen with joy. Principal Wesly says "The school has been struggling with much smoke blackening the walls and the roof of the kitchen, the firewood consumption was alarming to the school budget because the open fires uses a lot of firewood. The open fire was dangerous to the school cook because he was at risk of getting burns. Since the installation of this smokeless stove in our schools kitchen, the school has been able to save a lot in terms of the firewood used because the smokeless stove uses less firewood. The cook says that he is comfortable while cooking and there is no smoke in the kitchen. The school kitchen is clean all day. The walls of the kitchen remained clean and the roof is also clean. Asante sana Brighter communities Worldwide for this wonderful stove". 

These positive impacts and inspiring stories wouldn’t be possible without your support. From all of us and from communities across Kericho County, thank you for helping build a brighter future.

Asante sana!