Jacaranda Orphanage and Schools in Blantyre has urged women to play a leading role in the fight against climate change through the use of efficient sources of energy.
Founder of Jaracanda Orphanage and Schools Marie Da Silva made the call yesterday in Blantyre when her institution donated chitetezo mbaula to neighboring villages of the orphanage in Chigumula, Blantyre.
Da Silva said women play a significant role in the fight against climate change in the country because they are the ones who shoulder most of household responsibilities like cooking.
She said: “Unless we target and encourage more more women to use efficient sources of energy in the country, we can’t win the fight against climate change.
“Women present a rare opportunity to deal with most challenges because they shoulder most of the household responsibilities.”
Currently, Malawi is battling with effects of climate change-related shocks such as cyclones and El Nino that have distracted food security. Climate induced shocks pose far-reaching consequences like disrupting child education.
According to Da Silva, chitetezo mbaula is efficient because it uses few sources of energy (firewood) at household level which contributes in the fight against climate change by lessening emissions of greenhouse gases.
She said: “Majority of rural households in Malawi use firewood and charcoal as main source of energy. Therefore, chitetezo mbaula is good because they use minimal firewood.
“However, our country needs more innovations serve as alternatives sources of efficient energy.”
This year’s community outreach programme on sustainable environment was supported by Silvia Hesse from Hannover in Germany.
She sponsored the purchase of 100 stoves which were distributed to the rural women.
Commenting on the development, environment management activist Mathews Malata said Malawians need alternative sources of efficient energy in order to discourage heavy use firewood and charcoal.
Meanwhile, most Malawians rely on charcoal and firewood for cooking, a development which is depleting forests and invoking climate-related shocks.
For example, deforestation negatively contributes to climate change which affects agricultural production and human existence.
