Harriet went to kalitumba to follow up on stove building and usage.
She was received by the Vht( DIna) whom she asked to walk with her into the homes she did not reach in the previous visit. They walked together looking at the stove usage, construction of the fire risen stands for firewood storage as well as smearing.
They found some people using their stoves on daily basis and this was evidenced by the absence of the traditional three stones used for cooking. However they were some few homes that were using the traditional three stones for cooking alongside the fuel efficient stoves. Harriet took an initiative to find out why they had left the three stones in the kitchens though they claimed not to be using them.
Some women told her that according their tradition they culturally believe that they only remove the three stones from the Kitchen only when the husband in the home has died or else their husbands will die according to their belief.
This was challenging to Harriet , however she told them the dangers of leaving the three stones in the kitchens that it can attracted other people to use instead of the fuel efficient stove.
She also challenged them about their belief by asking them whether other members in the community who took the three stones out of their kitchens whether they husbands are still leaving or dead.They testified that those women’s husbands are still leaving which dis approved their belief.
So they agreed to take out the three stones because they have not seen any one who took the three stones out of the kitchen being negatively affected.
On the stove building process ,Harriet encouraged them to resume meeting and building stoves for other members who don’t have stoves though they participated in the program. The chairperson of the group promised to remobilize the community and start building stoves again.
Next Visit
2020-01-31 - Purpose: Follow up on stove building and usage.
Program Success
Most people are cooking on their stoves on daily basis.
Program Critical Needs
Continue encouraging teamwork.
Program Ownership
Most people have smeared their facilities
Other Program Observations
Sanitation and hygiene standards have been maintained.