Fueling Change

Category: Alternative energy | Date: Jul 18 2008 | By: endingcharcoal

Recent donations
Our humble thanks to the following people for helping us make the effort to end charcoal a success: Carol L. $200, Eileen C. $100, and Katie L $50. Your donations will go directly to supporting the very project you see below. Thank you!

Progress in Rumangabo
Last week, Virginia and Francky trained our new press workers and despite a brief encounter with an “unfriendly”, perservered and finished the week successfully. The workers seemed very eager and enthusiastic about their new job opportunity.

Virginia watches the teams take to briquetting like they were old hands at it

Gathering materials to be crushed and converted to compost

Gaining an appreciation for the hammer mill - workers use the old fashioned mortar and pestle. Your donations will help us purchase a hammer mill, which reduces a team’s labor by 75%!

Getting a feel for a good mix

The pressing competition in full-swing

The winning team takes home much needed rice and beans

Francky will be beginning full-time work in Rumangabo on July 21st. As with the hammer mill, your donations will help pay his salary and those of the press workers. Once our production dries and is ready for use, we will begin selling it locally with the hopes of having our sales finance the Rumangabo team. Our goal is to have the entire village weaned off of charcoal within 6 months. Thank you all for following our progress — and for your generous contributions!