In Burundi, where wood is the primary energy source for cooking, the use of traditional three-stone stoves leads to massive deforestation and health problems caused by smoke. From August 10th to 17th, 2024, stove builder Traugott Binder from the stove construction company Traugott Binder GmbH in Herrenberg, Baden-Württemberg, and AKI project manager Teklezghi Teklebrhan traveled to Burundi to conduct a training on building smoke-free cooking stoves and bread ovens. During this training, 25 young men and women from various regions in Burundi were trained to disseminate the knowledge they acquired. The new stoves, made from clay and bricks, reduce wood consumption, pollutant emissions, and smoke by up to 50% at the same time protecting both the environment and the health of the people.

Der AKI-Project manager Teklezghi Teklebrhan reports: „Promoting innovative yet simple technologies using locally available materials is a key strategy for Burundi. Mr. Binder's involvement will have a significant impact in Burundi, and many participants will seize this opportunity to sustainably improve their quality of life with the new knowledge they have gained.“

Father Walter Stärk, who has been living in Burundi for 62 years and is originally coming from Stuttgart, says: "Such projects are of great relevance for poorer people who need to cook their beans, rice, and vegetables. The project has a model character. While electricity is available for cooking in the cities, it is lacking in rural areas where nearly 90% of the population lives. The energy-saving stoves will not only protect the environment but also improve people's health. For 62 years, I have observed how difficult it is for people to obtain enough firewood. They often must pay high prices for wood that lasts only a few days. Especially for poorer families with many children, buying firewood is a significant burden. The new stoves will greatly reduce these expenses, providing crucial relief."

Egide Bigirimana, one of the 25 participants and the winner of the first place in the practical stove-building, says:"I am thankful to have participated in this training. I have gained a new qualification that I now want to make it as my profession.“

"Due to his exceptional skills and quick understanding, Egide Bigirimana will be working as a trainer for AKI in the future," reports AKI project manager Mr. Teklezghi Teklebrhan. He adds that the trained multipliers will now return to their villages to share their knowledge and train other community members.

Traugott Binder, master craftsman, said:"The project offers a promising future for the local people. The energy-efficient cooking stoves and bread ovens are built from locally available materials and require 50% less wood. Since the stoves are smokeless, they significantly reduce the risk on the respiratory system, lungs, and eyes while cooking. Additionally, stove building provides people with a new career perspective and a source of income. The training was a great success, and following this promising start, we will continue to intensify our collaboration with AKI as a master craftsman stove construction company."

The "Help for Self-Help" mission was very successful and lays the foundation for further activities in the fight against climate change. AKI thanks Mr. Binder for his outstanding support and looks forward to continued collaboration.

The two projects, "Agricultural social education and Training Centre in Gitega, Burundi" (since July 2020) and "Green Future: Sustainable Climate Protection in Burundi" (since January 2024), are funded by the Ministry of Food, Rural Affairs, and Consumer Protection of Baden-Württemberg (MLR).