Mukuru Clean Stoves: Winning the Earthshot Prize for Sustainable Cooking

The Genesis of Mukuru Clean Stoves

• 💡 Charlotte Maggy, founder and CEO of Mukuru Clean Stoves, was inspired by a traumatic personal experience where her daughter suffered burns from a traditional stove.
• 🧠 Initially focused on burn prevention, Maggy's research revealed that high fuel costs and household air pollution were the most significant problems in her community.
• 🎯 This led to the design of a stove that addresses burn risks, fuel costs, and air pollution simultaneously.

Impact on Households and Communities

• 💰 Mukuru Clean Stoves enable disadvantaged communities, earning $40-$100 monthly, to save up to $2 per week on fuel costs, totaling over $100 million in savings.
• 📈 The stoves' distribution is exclusively handled by women, empowering them to increase their household income by up to 40% monthly.

Transforming Daily Lives

• 🍎 The $2 weekly savings are significant, allowing families to afford protein in their diet instead of just carbs and vegetables.
• 📚 Savings also mean children can afford school uniform repairs, preventing missed school days, and girls can spend more time on homework.
• ⏳ Women gain valuable time previously spent collecting firewood (often 3 hours daily) or cooking, allowing them to focus on running their businesses and increasing income.
• ⚠️ The stoves help women avoid dangerous situations, such as rape, associated with collecting firewood in remote areas.