Growing and cooking food presents different problems in different parts of the world. In poverty and disaster stricken Africa, energy to meet cooking needs is a complex problem that has led to complicated environmental, economic and social situations.
In disaster stricken Haiti, International Lifeline Fund’s program, is working to wean the country off this lethal addiction. Throughout Haiti, 95% of the population relies on wood and/or charcoal for cooking. This cooking method has ravaged the environment, and poses a huge economic cost to families as well. In the aftermath of the earthquake, the cost of charcoal accounts for approximately 40% of the income of the typical Haitian family.

ILF’s initiative in Haiti seeks to address these urgent problems by providing fuel saving stoves that is designed to run on either wood or briquettes that is recycled paper compressed into briquettes. This is part of a two-part solution to the problems of fuel demand and excessive waste. When using briquettes made from waste, stoves save 100% of wood or charcoal that would have been previously used. When briquettes are unavailable and wood is the only option, the stoves save 60-80% of wood as compared to cooking on a traditional fire or charcoal stove.