Every Maasai Boma Hut (a mud and stick dwelling with a thatched roof) has traditionally had an open fire for cooking and heating. These fires are extremely dangerous, and the smoke they produce makes the air very unhealthy.
This project is particularly significant for a number of reasons:
- The smoke and carbon monoxide levels in the homes have been reduced by more than 95%
- The fire box is insulated so a child falling on it will not get burnt
- Maasai make the fire boxes and bricks, and 12 Maasai women have been trained as stove installers. This is the first paying job they have had, and they are now able to buy food for their children, and pay the fees needed to keep them in school
- The stoves burn only about 1/7th of the amount of wood that is needed for the open fires, so a lot less time is spent gathering wood, and far fewer trees need to be cut down
The new vented stoves have reduced the smoke and carbon monoxide by venting it through the engineered stove and chimney. A new stove will improve the health and well-being of the entire family.
Fireboxes have arrived and making bricks
An early stove and installing the chimney
Bomas with residents and chimneys
Below are just a few recipients
This phase two project is now complete! More than 300 stoves total have been installed since we started.
