NSENGIMANA Claude is witnessing how he benefited from ICS training
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USE OF IMPROVED COOKING STOVES (ICS) TO REDUCE PRESSURE ON FOREST HABITATS IN GISHWATI NATIONAL PARK, RWANDA
Full Solution
Beneficiaries being trained on making ICS
REAO
This solution is about to educate beneficiaries on how to make an Improved Cooking Stove (ICS). Beneficiaries are youth and women from group of poachers and those cutting down trees in the park. They are adolescent mothers, victims of sexual abuse and young men unable to pursue their education.The Park is the source of income to them, therefore to empower them will be a major boost to environment preservation.
They will be selected, educated on the environment and trained to make ICS.
Once equipped with hands-on skills to make an ICS they can sell them. In this case ICS have economic effect since they are generating income. ICS will reduce consumption of fuel by 30% hence the reduction of dependence on firewood; Indoor air pollution is reduced and the health of users is preserved too.
ICS promote gender equality since time that was spent by women and girls for collection of firewood, is spent in attending other developmental and creational activities such as public meetings etc.
Last update: 03 Nov 2021
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Context
Challenges addressed
The solution is meant to address economic, social and environmental issues.
The first challenge is the unemployment mostly in the youth and women including those who did not attend schools, Making ICS is a job for them. The second is the excess of expenditure on firewood; the polluted air and dirtiness in the household that uses traditional 3 stones stove are other challenges for the members of the family. ICS is a solution.
Women spend a lot of time in search of firewood and the use of non-efficient cooking stoves wastes time that could be used for other activities that generate income. More importantly, intensive tree cutting is leading to significant deforestation in the local areas. Impoved Cooking Stove is the right solution too.
Location
Gishwati-Mukura, Rwanda, Western Province, Rutsiro District
East and South Africa
Process
Summary of the process
These building blocks complement each other. Education on importance of ICS in protecting the environment is as important as providing skills of making those ICS. For the community to change from traditional 3 stones stove; it is necessary to undergo the changing behaviour training before adopting the improved cooking stove.
Citizens should be made aware of why the changes is needed. once they understand the needs and interest of adopting the new product then we train them how to produce it. There is a performance contract that states what the community will do but also how they will benefit from it.
Building Blocks
To increase the awareness of the community on the role of environment in the wellbeing of the humanity
To get the awareness of the community and sustainability of our solution we teach the community through public meeting, in chuches, on radio talks and with any other means that delivers information. We prepared an education module that help community to have a full package: explanation of concept "environment", involved parties, the threat to environment, the role, rights & obligations of the community in environmental protection. In partnership with schools we make study tours in parks and other reserves help the community to understand the environment.
Enabling factors
1. The appropriate collaboration of local leaders: Local leaders provide tremendous support in mobilization but they create also an enabling environment and in the reinforcement of laws related to environment.
2. The availability of financial resources: In some parts, the implementation of above building block requires money to pay some necessities such as printings, airtalks, park visiting, etc.
Lesson learned
The first lesson is that when the citizen is well guided, he undestands the importance of the environment protection and he is ready to act accordingly . Another lesson is that the environment can regenerate itself when taken care of. Forcing the community is not a good option for a sustainable solution in preserving the environment. Teaching them to get the personal commitment is the best alternative.
Teach the community the skills of Improved Cooking Stoves (ICS)
After understanding bad effects of cutting trees for heating energy, the people look for an alternative to reduce deforestation. The majority concluded to learn how to efficiently use less bulk of trees with same results in energy. Thus, the adoption of improved cooking stoves reduce the use of wood by 30% with the same result in heating.
Within 4 months the cohort is taught how to mix availbale materials turning them in good ICS (clay, sand, used ironsheet, ). They are taught from scratch and become good ICS maker not only for household use but also for sale.
Enabling factors
The availability of financial resources: To produce ICS requires a mix of different materials that need to be bought though not expensive(used ironsheet, nails, sand, clay).
Informed community: The knowledge of people enhance the right choice, ICS is one solution but there are other alternatives that might be used including those that are harmful to environment. It is required to educate the community to get good result as well as educating direct beneficiaries before any activity to be conducted for getting the best of the solution
Lesson learned
The participation of the local community is the key to all achievements and sustainability of solution in environmental matters. We learned that when the action respects the win-win rule, then there is an interest of all stakeholders. The skills in ICS making was a big benefit for the community, which was motivated and contributed to achievements of our goals.
Impacts
The solution is meant to address economic, social and environmental issues. ICS will provide jobs to young people who sell them to the community, and they will be able to afford the cost of basic needs such as health insurance, food and clothing.
ICS will improve the social wellbeing within community users as well.
Generally ICS has a direct influence on the quality of life of the communities by improving their health, hygiene in homes and overall productivity. It contributes in reducing the cutting down of trees by 30% for those who use ICS. Thus, Improved Cooking Stoves is a viable option and a sustainable alternative for the community to overcome some of these issues, e.g. by reducing household expenditure for buying charcoal and firewood.
Beneficiaries
Residents of Rutsiro near Gishwati Park. Those involved in poaching, tree-cutting in the park or in its buffer zone. Among these are teen mothers and single mothers head of families, youth that were unable to pursue their education.
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 1 – No poverty
SDG 3 – Good health and well-being
SDG 5 – Gender equality
SDG 7 – Affordable and clean energy
Story
My name is Nsengimana Claude, I am 26 years old. I live in Gatunda Sector, Nyagatare District. We are seven in our family. I am learning the improved cooking stoves (ICS) technology through support of Rwanda Environment Awareness Organization (REAO). I dropped out of school when I was in high school because my family could not afford the school fees and other scholastic requirements. This was really hard for me because I couldn’t dream anymore. My life was completely over. But I remembered the saying that “is not over until it is done”. I believe it now.
After, joining ICS technology training I am now on my way to a changed a person. Now my life is on track. I am the right person to witness that, life is the best gift. As long as you still breathe, do not give up.
Now, due to ICS technology trainings, I have learnt how make the frames of a stove. Minutes the inner dough of clay soil and I have managed to produce 3 frames of Improved Cooking stoves in 7 days and planning to build more stoves. The trainers have praised me as a fast learner. Before joining I didn’t earn even 10,000RWf in a month from cultivating for other people. However, with these skills I am getting during these trainings, I want to use them in future so that I can earn more money. I am really grateful and inspired with what REAO is doing. Through ICS trainings I have learned how to preserve our environment.
