Umodzi Green Collect: Clean Energy for Lives & Environment
With over 13,000 deaths directly attributed to smoke each year, the need for safer and more sustainable alternatives is urgent.
Zomba, Malawi-In Malawi, where more than 98 percent of the population relies on traditional biomass for cooking, the health and environmental risks associated with the usage of firewood as a fuel for heating and cooking are enormous, writes Sumeya Issa.
With over 13,000 deaths directly attributed to smoke each year, the need for safer and more sustainable alternatives is urgent.
This is where Umodzi Green Collect, a group of resilient Malawian women, comes into play.
Umodzi Green Collect is on a mission to respond to the heavy consequences resulting from the depletion of natural resources, forests, and the dangers that sourcing firewood pose to women and girls in Malawi.
Their innovative approach involves implementing safer, environmentally friendly, and more accessible alternatives for firewood and charcoal.
One of the key solutions offered by Umodzi Green Collect is the conversion of waste into energy for domestic use.
Margaret Nyalugwe, a resident of Zomba, is one community member who has benefited from this initiative.
She has been trained to make briquettes from various waste materials such as used papers, egg trays, rice husks, cartons, dried leaves, pea stocks, and sticks.
Nyalugwe expresses her gratitude for the intervention, stating, "I have experienced immense benefits from this intervention."
"Gone are the days when I had to embark on long journeys to collect firewood, which brought a significant burden to my life. The time-consuming process of gathering firewood deprived me of the opportunity to engage in more productive activities at home. Learning how to make briquettes through the Umodzi intervention has truly transformed my life and made it much easier for me and my family."
Nyalugwe emphasizes that the intervention has not only provided her with a sustainable cooking fuel source but has also opened avenues for income generation.
As a parent responsible for providing for her children, making briquettes has been a breakthrough for her, lifting her out of unemployment and providing a reliable source of income.
Through the Umodzi Green Collect initiative, waste materials are provided, and the women are paid for making the briquettes.
On a good day, they can produce around 1500 to 2000 briquettes, contributing to both their livelihoods and the environment.
"Through the Umodzi Green Collect initiative, we are supplied with the necessary waste materials for making briquettes. We are compensated for our efforts in producing the briquettes, which are then sold. On a productive day, we can create around 1500 to 2000 briquettes, as long as we have an adequate supply of waste materials," she elaborates.
Wezi Mjathu, the Deputy Director for Umodzi Green Collect, explains that the intervention aims to bring transformation to communities in Malawi and contribute to the reduction of the heavy effects of climate change.
"Government recently put into place laws to ban the usage and trading of charcoal in Malawi," says Mjathu.
"Looking at how Malawians have not been left with many alternatives following this ban, we feel briquettes are a much safer and more accessible option for Malawians. Briquettes are also a much safer alternative for the environment."
Mjathu is passionate about the environment and envisions a world where women are safe from the dangers of sourcing firewood and where forests thrive, reducing the risk of natural disasters.
She emphasizes the need for intervention to protect Malawi's natural resources and prevent further environmental degradation.
She further adds, "Having lived in Zomba for more than 12 years, I have witnessed the gradual transformation of the once lush and vibrant Zomba mountain. It is disheartening to see how bare it has become, and this situation is not unique to Zomba alone. Many other forests and mountains across Malawi have also lost their natural cover. If we continue the unsustainable practice of deforestation and depleting our precious natural resources, we will inevitably face the consequences in the years to come. The urgent need for intervention is evident, and we must take action to protect our environment."
To date, Umodzi Green Collect has trained over 2000 women in Malawi on clean energy solutions and modern agricultural skills.
Their efforts align with Sustainable Development Goal 7, which seeks to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
Maloto Chimkombero, an environmental activist, commends the Umodzi Green Collect intervention, emphasizing the need for Malawi to invest in clean energy alternatives to avoid the consequences of environmental degradation.
"I wholeheartedly commend the Umodzi Green Collect intervention, particularly at this crucial juncture when we aspire to witness a majority of Malawians transitioning from biomass energy to clean energy. Innovations like these are essential as they not only enhance the availability of clean energy alternatives but also make them more affordable for the masses," expressed Chinkombero.
With the new laws criminalizing charcoal production and trading, innovative solutions like the Umodzi initiative are crucial in increasing the availability and affordability of clean energy alternatives for the masses.
As Malawi continues its transition towards cleaner energy sources, initiatives like Umodzi Green Collect play a vital role in improving the lives of communities, protecting the environment, and working towards a sustainable future.
With their dedication and innovative approach, they are making a significant impact, one briquette at a time.