Project: Breathing Easier: The ICS Initiative 🔥

The Invisible Health Crisis

The reliance on open-fire cooking in Bhojpur results in severe indoor air pollution, leading to high rates of respiratory illness, especially among women and children.

The Solution: Improved Cook Stoves (ICS)

We distributed and installed 300 high-efficiency Improved Cook Stoves (ICS), which significantly reduce smoke and fuel consumption.

Benefits of ICS

• Health: Reduces indoor smoke by up to 80%, mitigating risks of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
• Time & Labor: Requires less firewood, saving women and children up to 10 hours per week previously spent on fuel collection.
• Efficiency: Uses up to 40% less fuel, contributing to local forest preservation.

Training and Adoption

Every participating household received hands-on training on the proper use, maintenance, and cleaning of the ICS unit. Local women champions were trained as 'ICS Ambassadors' to provide continuous support.

Testimonial (Inline Quote)

“The kitchen is so much cleaner now. My eyes don't burn anymore, and I have time to teach my daughter in the evenings.” — Sarita Rai, ICS Beneficiary.

Monitoring and Evaluation

A six-month follow-up survey tracks the sustained use of the stoves and monitors self-reported health improvements in the beneficiary families.