About Darfur Stoves Project (from www.darfurstoves.org)
Imagine having to knowingly put yourself at grave risk just to feed your family. Imagine the fear of being hours from safety with no hope of protection. Imagine having to rely on food rations to live — and being forced to sell some of them to buy wood just to avoid the risk of rape. No one should have to image this yet it is reality for thousands of women every day in Darfur.
The Darfur Stoves Project works to create sustainable solutions to humanitarian problems in Darfur by utilizing technology that is respectful of the culture and environment. They provide technical assistance and training with a focus on multi-faceted and practical solutions. The Berkeley-Darfur Stove®, improves personal safety and food security while addressing environmental impact issues and providing jobs within Darfur. They work in partnership with a number of diverse non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to ensure our goals become reality and are the flagship project under the umbrella non-profit Technology Innovation for Sustainable Societies (TISS).
The Berkeley Darfur Stove® is four time more efficient than traditional 3-stones fires and two times more efficient than clay stoves. The efficiency and design of the stove has many benefits including:
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less time outside of the camps collecting fuel wood, reducing the risk of exposure to rape.
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fully enclosed flames reducing the danger of the dense straw and stick shelters from burning down.
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reduction of smoke production compared to other stoves, reducing smoke inhalation and lung disease.
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saving time by cutting down fuel wood treks, allowing women to pursue income generating opportunities.
