Toshiba Tec Europe
The Toshiba Carbon Zero Scheme supports the ongoing activities to promote and disseminate improved cook stoves in Kenya. These stoves replace the traditional 3-stone fires that are used throughout Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa, which require vast amounts of firewood, emit large amounts of greenhouse gases and expose their users to illnesses associated with indoor air pollution.
Primary enrolment in developing countries now stands at 91%. However, absenteeism and drop-outs remain major challenges, and 57 million primary- age children worldwide are not enrolled in school at all. 103 million youths worldwide lack basic literacy skills due to limited access to education, over 60% of whom are female.
Eliza Muriuki lives in Mathira sub-county and is solely responsible for caring for her 4 primary-age children after losing her husband a year ago. Eliza is the recipient of an improved cookstove through the Toshiba CarbonZero scheme, and there is no doubt that it has changed her and her children’s lives. Eliza previously used a traditional 3-stone fire which would produce large amounts of black smoke which affected her health and that of her children, with most of the small income generated from selling vegetables having to be spent on medication. These were funds diverted away which could have been dedicated to investing into new school uniforms and books for the children.
The children also had trouble completing their homework because, given the very high firewood consumption of the 3-stone fire, Eliza was forced to send them out to gather firewood for several hours every evening, leaving them too tired to do their homework. Even when they did sit down to do their homework, smoke from the fire would cause them great difficulty as their eyes would fill with tears. Due to these challenges, the children would therefore often not complete their homework, leading to them falling behind and being punished at school.
The complex challenges facing Eliza’s household have been alleviated since receiving the new stove. She narrates: “I am now very happy as I no longer send my children to fetch firewood in the evening after school. The new stove consumes less firewood so I am able to collect enough as I handle my other daily activities in the farm. This is improving the children’s school performance as they are able to commit their evening studying unlike before.”
Eliza further notes the fantastic impact of the stove on her children’s education and thus their hopes for the future: “Many kids fail in attaining a good education as they lack fees and mine were almost in a similar situation but thank God this energy efficient stove came into my life and helped me see the other side of life, I have made tremendous savings overtime and improved my living conditions. Just seeing my kids consistently attend school, their fees paid in time and improving in their performance, I am sure in the near future they will be great people. With good education they can become anything they want as they will be empowered. I am a single mother, my husband having passed on a year ago and the best thing I can give to my kids is a good education, with education everything changes.”
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