Monday, January 11, 2010

Project #1: Help Send Fuel-Efficient Stoves to Darfur

Because of regional conflict, over 2 million Darfuris have fled their homes and live in refugee camps. Women risk attacks when they walk up to 7 hours out of these camps in search of firewood to fuel their cooking fires. In collaboration with Darfuri women, Berkeley scientist Ashok Gadgil of the Darfur Stoves Project built the fuel-efficient Berkeley-Darfur Stove (it uses 75% less wood than the traditional cooking fires). Women cut the time they spend in search of wood, significantly lowering their risk to violence. How it works: Sheet metal pieces are first stamped out in India; these "flat-kits" are shipped to and assembled in DSP's workshop in Darfur, then distributed to refugee families. $14 covers the cost of getting a stove “flat-kit” to Darfur (project partner Oxfam America pays for the rest); JustGive.org. The Spud Challenge For every new Facebook fan The Spud gets by Friday, we'll donate $1 to the Darfur Stoves Project. To become a fan, click here. UPDATE: This challenge has closed.
Photo credit: Darfur Stoves Project