Improved cookstoves make life easier for women

| October 5, 2015

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This week’s story from Mali mentions improved cookstoves as one way to reduce the burden of women’s work.

In 2005, Farm Radio International distributed a Resource Pack on HIV and AIDS. One of the items in the Pack focused on improved cookstoves.

HIV and AIDS increase women’s workload in many ways. If their husbands have died, women must take on additional farm work. Many women also care for orphans or other family members who have been left homeless. They might also be caring for someone with the chronic illness at home. There are always funerals and community events to plan and attend—and all of these take time.

Our script of the week features four short spots which show that, if women replace their cooking fire or three-stone stove with a more efficient cookstove that burns less wood, they will not have to spend so much time collecting firewood.

There are many types of improved cookstoves, made of clay, dried mud, or metal. They may burn firewood, dung, charcoal, or coal. Before you play these spots on your radio station or adapt them to the local situation, find out which kinds of cookstoves are available in your area, where they are sold, and how much they cost. Then you can incorporate this information into your program.

http://www.farmradio.org/radio-resource-packs/package-73-hivaids-and-food-security/improved-cookstoves-make-life-easier-for-women/