Madagascar - Expanding the solar stoves & fuel efficient stove project in the Southwest

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Rainbow Tours is working with BVCO to expand their fuel efficient and solar stove project in the coastal villages southwest Madagascar.  The funding that is brought in by Rainbow Tours' 'Sponsor a spove' programme will fund stoves distributed to impoverished households in the region. These stoves will proovide a considerable number of environmental, social and economic benefits.

In southwest Madagascar, people currently use primarily wood and charcoal in three stone open fires. This is a highly inefficient way of cooking with a mere 13% of the energy contributing to the cooking process.  This efficiency can be greatly improved, helping to both reduce fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

Solar and fuel efficient stoves reduce the requirement for fuel wood and charcoal by around 4 times; benefiting the local community through cost reductions, time savings and improved health and safety conditions.  The environment benefits from reduced carbon emissions and also from reduced pressure on local forests.  The programme itself supports development by providing local employment in stove construction, distribution and monitoring; and promotes efficient cooking through education and awareness campaigns.

From this...

Solar stoves and energy efficient stoves reduce the requirement for fuel wood and charcoal by 50% - 70% (stove dependent). The stoves provide:

• Economic benefits - reducing costs, low carbon development path, and local employment
  
• Social benefits - reducing the time spent collecting wood, freeing time for other activities
  
• Health benefits – improving household air quality & reducing burn incidents
  
• Environment benefits - helping to reduce deforestation pressure along with helping make carbon dioxide reductions

Further detail on this programme can be found here:

As a Rainbow Tours traveller sponsoring a stove you will receive quarterly updates on the project in SW Madagascar and the people that you are helping..

If you are interested in offseting any other journeys please use the BVCO flight carbon calculator.