Towards a better life

1
Towards a better life

• for poor families in Son Tay, Ha Tay Province

2
Energy saving ovens

• SWU, VGRRC and DED
• enabled
• 100 poor families
• in Son Tay
• to construct
• energy saving ovens
• in 2002

Farmer, SWU team and DED staff
3
Traditional cooking

• One kitchen is shared by all females living in
  one household grandmother, housewife and
  daughter(s)
• Smoke produced from traditional open fireplaces
  causes eye inflammations and chest infections
  among the women working in the kitchen

Traditional fire place, made redundant after the
installation of an energy saving oven
4
Sources of energy

• Traditionally, women in Son Tay use rice straw,
  dry grass and fuel wood as sources of energy for
  cooking and heating
• The same fuels can be used with this type of
  oven, but as it is more fuel-efficient, less is
  needed

Mrs. Ha is preparing for cooking
5
Technology adapted womens needs

• Ovens are built from concrete, placed against the
  wall of the kitchen building
• Complete meals can be prepared without problems
• The openings are made to measure and require no
  new pots and pans

Mrs. Hoa, President SWU and DED staff in a
farmers kitchen with new oven
6
Chimney

• A properly constructed chimney should be higher
  than the roof and have a protective cover to
  prevent rainwater, leaves and pests (rats etc.)
  from entering
• In Son Tay, various materials are used bricks,
  metal or earthenware pipes

7
Direct impact

• Reduced fuel demands eases the workload of the
  women who collect it
• More efficient use of fuel wood results in
  considerable savings for the household
• Women are less exhausted and spend more quality
  time with their families
• The reduction in pollutants improves the health
  status of the women who work in the kitchen

Women in Kim Son, Son Tay transport the fuel wood
needed on their way back home from work in the
factory
8
For a better life

• ALL THE FEMALES
• living
• in a household
• enjoy
• better
• living conditions
• from
• an investment of
• 200.000 VN Dong (13 US)

A farmer preparing a meal