Electricaid Project of the Month

Green Industry in rural Eritrea

Self help africa was set up in 1994 to help implement rural development programmes that focus on food security. The goal of Self Help is to foster sustainable rural communities in the developing world. It achieves this goal by helping increase food production and the income of farming households, as well as recovering access to social services along with the conservation and wise use of natural resources. Goals are further achieved by supporting local authorities and communitybased organisations at all levels in capacity building and resource provision, which allows these organisations to respond to the development process, to feel a sense of ownership and have power over the decision-making process.

Self Help applied to ElectricAid in November 2006 for a grant to fund a firewood consumption reduction programme in Elabered, Eritrea. The idea was to produce a range of fuel efficient, environmentally-friendly stoves to replace the existing wood-burning stoves that were causing heavy pollution and deforestation in the area. Firewood is not only harmful to the environment when burnt, but it is also very time consuming to gather - a task which is usually left to women and children.

This revolutionary fuel saving technology builds on pilot trials carried out by Self Help in 2006 that provided very positive results. By improving the efficiency of stoves, the consumption of bio-fuel is dramatically reduced ( by up to 50%), resulting in reduction of household firewood requirements and the time spent collecting firewood for household needs. These fuel efficient stoves incorporate chimneys to remove harmful smoke from homes, practically eliminating household pollution from cooking. The rates of acute respiratory infections (due to smoky charcoal) have reduced dramatically.

Furthermore, the construction and installation of these stoves has created employment opportunities for young adult women. During pilot studies women's groups were offered training in the construction and installation of stoves and, with the reduced time spent collecting firewood, the trained women have been able to use their new skills to promote this simple technology more widely within their communities and have obtained a new source of income through constructing stoves in other households. 'Green industries' are not the sole preserve of the Developed World!

So, thanks to a modest funding of €8,250 by ElectricAid, the environmental degradation of the Elabered area has been reversed, there are new employment opportunities, people are healthier because of the reduction in respiratory problems, and women and children have more time for education and looking after their families, as opposed to collecting firewood. Whatever amount you donate, please know that it is hugely felt and greatly appreciated by those in the developing world who need it most.