Together we can build resilience and save lives

Thank you for your support of this project. We are pleased to share the following report with you from Beatrice Wambia, Programme Officer Climate and Environment

We can build resilience and improve lives through installation of Smokeless Stoves and planting Trees with a Purpose. One of the greatest achievements through the Climate Change Ambassadors sensitisation work, has been the adoption of smokeless stoves by vulnerable households and the planting of trees with a purpose in communities.

For many years, Nancy from Bureti sub-county, prepared meals over a traditional three stone fire. Her kitchen was constantly filled with smoke, causing persistent coughing and eye irritation for both herself and her children.

She needed to spend several hours each week collecting firewood, leaving most of her household chores unattended. After receiving the smokeless stove from Brighter Communities Worldwide, here is what she said. -

"I am a very happy mother today. The smokeless stove has made my cooking faster and easier. My children no longer struggle with coughing while I cook. This smokeless stove uses less firewood compared to the three stone I used earlier. I now go to fetch firewood once a week and this has helped me save more time to attend to my family and other household chores. I am very grateful for Brighter Communities Worldwide  to have considered me as one of the beneficiaries of the smokeless stove. Asante sana"

In the nearby sub-county of Belgut, Victor is a member of Lemeywet self-help group. He is very happy for his group to have received tree seedlings for an income generating activity. Here is what Victor says -

"I have never realised that a tree could provide so many benefits like this. My family and group members will feed from the avocado tree and this will have good nutritional value for the family and we will sell some of the avocadoes to have income for the group and family in future. The indigenous tree seedlings that we have been given as a group will protect our land from soil erosion and also provide shade. I promise to take care of these trees for future benefits to my family and community at large. Asante sana Brighter Communities Worldwide".

Alongside these activities, we continue to strengthen community knowledge on climate-smart practices, water conservation and kitchen garden adoption in communities through the trained Climate Change Ambassadors across the county. Naimah  a mother of one, is Climate Change Ambassador from Ainamoi sub-county and here are her words -

"I am proud to have been trained by Brighter Communities as a Climate Change Ambassador. This has helped me to conduct household-level sessions on climate-smart practices such as kitchen gardens and also promote the use of locally available and sustainable solutions. My community members are happy and are adopting the practices and most of them now have functional kitchen gardens. This has improved the nutrition of many families and is also a source of income for most families.Through this I am able to confidently sensitise households and it has helped me. Asante sana Brighter communities to have trained me as a Climate Change Ambassador".

Together we can build resilience and save lives. Asante sana