Samia - Low-Smoke Stoves Project (LPG)
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Authors
Elizabeth Dunn
Issue Date
2016-03
Type
Language
en
Keywords
Energy
Alternative Title
Abstract
Samia is a 38 year old house wife, who lives in El Fasher with her husband and 6 children (2 boys and 4 girls.) Samia used to cook on a charcoal stove but since 2008 has been using Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) stoves - with low-smoke emissions. Below, she explains what life was like before LPG and the impact it has now had on her life. “LPG is fast and better than consuming lots of wood and charcoal. I heard about it through the Women’s Development Association. It was an awareness meeting.” “We were told it’s affordable, fast. You are consuming a lot of fuel, it will be cheaper. One cylinder will last for one month. You will save money and your health will improve. I never used wood but I used charcoal. Charcoal is dirty and it made me dirty. When you start to burn it, it takes time until its ready. When you start to burn, you have to work hard to get it ready." “During cooking, there was a lot of smoke. There is ash everywhere after cooking, which I would have to clean.” “My eyes would hurt and I would cough a lot. Practical Action told me about the effects of indoor air pollution. I had heard about many women in Darfur who had chest infections. Babies sometimes got chest infections and eye problems. But there was no other option.” “Now I feel clean, there is no ‘dirtiness’ and I can do things faster. I feel comfortable and active. I’m no longer worried. I can wear clean clothes, before, my dress would get dirty and I’d have to clean all the time. Now I have time for myself. When I have a visitor but I need to prepare food, I do not worry.” “I can wash my children’s clothes. By 12am every day I am finished. I have time for my children. I feel that my children are now doing better at school.” Samia continued “I have savings now. I can participate more for my children’s education. I am thinking about university for my children. I don’t want them to stop at school. We would like to go on the hajj. I can improve my house more.” “I will tell people the LPG is comfortable, clean and saves money. It will change your life. I am trying to tell people [about LPG] and they are interested. 70-80 homes in my area now want LPG. Thanks to God, I am lucky. I also got it at a cheap price. I got it for 190 SDG, it’s now 600 SDG. I’ve had it since 2008. At that time, people were afraid to get LPG. There were rumours about LPG burning down houses. All people refused, then we just relied on God and we take it.”
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