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Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga
Briquettes, briquettes everywhere – and more to come in 2010
It is over 1 year since we launched the briquette program, and I would like to share some of our achievements:
600 briquette pressing machines on the ground
3,500 jobs created in rural areas
4,000 sacks of fuel briquettes produced each month
A carpentry workshop producing 20 briquette pressing machines per day
A group of press machine beneficiaries in Rumangabo
Our objective was to install 1,000 pressing machines by the end of 2009. Even though the machines have already been built and are waiting to be set up in the villages around the park, the sales of fuel briquettes in Goma could not keep up with the production. So we decided to slow down a bit, and reinforce marketing and sales.
Pressing machines ready to go on the ground
Huge efforts are being made to convince local people of the drastic consequences of charcoal consumption. Changing people’s habits is a difficult task that needs persistent effort in the long term. And to keep those briquette producers motivated, we need to make sure that all their production is bought by our project, no matter what.
Our on the ground experience tells us that the financial return from making briquettes is one of the main reasons 3,500 people continue to make briquettes. But importantly, briquettes are clean, easy to use, and do not require women to spend days on end in the forest, making them extremely vulnerable to attack.
Marketing fuso selling in Goma
Justine is a good example. Her husband was killed 10 years ago by the FDLR rebel group. In February 2009, she received the briquette-making kit and training, and since then, she has been selling her fuel briquette production every week in Rubare (close to Rumangabo). Thanks to the money earned she is now building a home for her eldest son, now 18 years old, and pays school fees for the rest of her 3 children.
Justine and her son
Justine with her pressing machine
Stories like this are a good example of how this project can have a positive impact both on the forests of Virunga National park and on the plight of the local population.
In 2010 we are more determined than ever to fight charcoal consumption, because our experience so far has shown that it is possible to make a change.
Thank you to all of you who donated to the briquette program in 2009. I should also like to thank the Dutch government (SenterNovem), the Belgian government, the British Embassy (in DRC) and the US Fish & Wildlife Service for their support.
Makala Ya Sasa! (The New Charcoal!)
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8 Responses to “Briquettes, briquettes everywhere – and more to come in 2010”
Excellent progress!
3500 jobs created? That is extraordinary.
Are these going to be long term jobs? Or will these people have to find something else to do once the demand for briquettes subsides?
Im looking forward to seeing how many more you can sell this year, and how many more minds you can change about charcoal.
Excellent Virginia for providing us with the over view on the Makala Ya Sasa. Thanks
Brilliant Virginia! So good to hear about the success stories such as Justine.
Excellent news! Giving these people an alternative fuel source and helping them make a better living not only helps the enivronment but gives people like Justine pride and less worry on how to take care of her family. That’s just a great thing all around!
Amazing job, such incredible progress in such little time..! Love from Richard and Isabel xx
Thanks Virginia and all the Briquette team.
Also - just a volcano update - the eruption has diminished considerably and while the volcanologists are not saying the eruption has stopped completely they believe it has almost come to an end.
Thank you for the comments and support.
Dear Rebecca, hopefully people in Goma will choose briquettes over charcoal, so the demand will continue to exist once we are gone. That is our dream and we are working on the market to make sure people change consumption habits. Takes time …. so you will hear from us the next months to come! Thank you again everyone for your encouraging words.
Hi Virginia,
I was deeply moved by the AMAZING results of the briquette project. I’m originally from Zambia but currently studying in US-California majoring in Environmental Studies. Will be returning home in September this year. How can one access information on how to make those briquette making machines & how to make the briquette? Your approach would greatly save trees from charcoal producers. I’m working with a Non Profit Organization in my home country called NATURE FRIENDS ZAMBIA. YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB !