Exodus in partnership with Plan to fund Smokeless Stove programme in Tanzania

Cooking over open, indoor fires has had a detrimental effect on the health of women and children in particular. Exposure to high levels of pollutants from wood smoke cause eye and lung problems. Rural women walk increasingly long distances to collect wood and carry heavy bundles home on average two or three times per week.

Due to lack of community awareness on the effects of pollutants from wood smoke to the eyes, elderly women have fallen victim of superstitious beliefs by some community members that elderly women with red eyes are witches. This has resulted in more than 196 elderly women being killed in six regions of the country last year alone, Shinyanga being on top with 50 murders and Mwanza being the second highest with 38 murders.

Exodus, the UK’s leading Adventure Travel Company, is helping by trying to raise £21,697 for Plan to fund a smokeless stove programme in the Geita District, Tanzania. The programme will include the implementation of 140 smokeless stoves in seven villages and the training of 70 members of the community to ensure sustainability. This programme will impact greatly on the health of the communities, particularly the women and children as well as having many other benefits.

This project will reduce the demand for trees for fuel which will help lessen the pressure on the vegetation of the region and enable regeneration to take place. The reduced amount of firewood used will importantly help reduce carbon emissions. As community members will be consulted and made aware of the importance of planting trees, hence preserving the natural resources of Geita for future generations.

There will be less time needed to go and collect firewood which will mean particularly for the women they have more time to do more worthwhile activities and will help empower them.
The introduction of smokeless stoves will also reduce the incidence of elderly women being murdered due to red eyes caused by the pollutants of wood smoke.

Through the introduction of the new technology of building stoves and communities being sensitized, the lives of elderly women will be safeguarded and prolonged as they won’t be subjected to brutal murders. If you would like to donate to this project please click on ‘Donate Now’ on the right of this page and follow the instructions.

“Exodus has been at the forefront of "Responsible Tourism" for many years with a successful history of supporting and managing practical, on the ground projects, that really do make a difference to the people and environment in the places we visit. We are therefore excited and proud to be able to work with PLAN on this excellent project in Tanzania.” Pete Burrell, Exodus Managing Director.

Exodus is also promoting sponsorship with Plan and other campaigns through their brochures, as well as running an appeal to their customers for victims of May's earthquake in China. If you would like to support Exodus’s China appeal please visit http://www.justgiving.com/exodustravels

Exodus is the UKs leading Adventure Travel Company with over 34 years of experience developing trips across all seven continents. If you would like to hear more about Exodus holidays please visit www.exodus.co.uk.