Clean Gas Cooking!

"A Call for Change – A Move to Clean Gas Cooking"

Article written by Mary Kwasniewski (Email)
Maison Fortune Orphanage Foundation
Executive Director
June 16, 2016
(HTT editor's note: Thank you Mary. We see this as an outstanding example of subsidy to sustainability.)

On the campus of Maison Fortuné the day starts, as most do, with breakfast, then there is a mid day meal served to all the school children, followed then by dinner.  Our cooking staff of works non-stop on the weekdays and on the weekends the boys cook together for themselves.  As with all kitchens – it’s an area to congregate, share stories and hang out… but unlike your kitchen, our cooking flames are fueled by charcoal.  Each WEEK we procure 150 lbs of charcoal to keep our fires hot while the rice is cooked.  In Haiti charcoal makes up more that 60% of the consumed energy but it doesn’t have to.

              

The cost of charcoal to the island has been devastating – the deforestation, especially in the high mountains, has serious consequences: it causes soil erosion, which affects hydro-logical cycles and threatens the quality and availability of drinking water. It also causes longer periods of intense drought like Haiti experienced this past winter and has even been linked to rising levels of malaria incidence. Another effect is the destruction of the habitat of species endemic to the country and, more dangerously, makes Haiti vulnerable to natural disasters.  According to the New York Times, Over 98% of the Haiti’s lands are deforested and illegal charcoal is now flowing across the border from the DR where long ago their government banned the production of charcoal to protect its forests. 

At Maison Fortuné we are striving to raise the future leaders of Haiti – many of them will find work in agriculture.  This means it is also our job, to make sure jobs in agriculture will exist in the future. For this reason and to begin to reverse the effects described above Maison Fortuné has decided to take the steps towards Clean Gas cooking.

              
The cost to not do so is far more than the price tag it will take to make it happen.  We are especially thankful to report that thanks to the generous support of MFOF partners and friends, this effort will begin September 1, 2016!

Maison Fortuné will set the example for others and work to ensure the future of Haiti’s lands in the process.
 

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A 501 (c) (3) corporation serving the needs of children in Hinche, Haiti.
Post Office Box 3092, Chesapeake, VA   23327-3092
www.mfofoundation.org