Doing their bit to get the green economy working for the poor - News | 110% Green

Doing their bit to get the green economy working for the poor

17 September 2014

A key theme for 110% Green is ensuring that the green economy works for the poor. From the Green Economy Strategy Framework, Smart Living and Working is an important enabler for implementing this theme especially in developing our settlements to have more efficient buildings, infrastructure and technologies which reduce energy and water demand and minimise waste in all forms. Two of our flagships have been doing just that over the past year.

Vuka Energy Savings, Stanford a Village Green

Vuka Energy Savings introduces low-income households to energy saving methods and technologies particularly around food preparation to enable households to cook food using less fuel. Crucially, energy savings can be made without having to compromise the nutritional value of the food. The organisation committed to visiting 115 households in Die Kop informal settlement, Stanford and sharing information on good cooking practices.

Vuka Energy Savings project duly began demonstrations in the selected low income area, partnering with Hermanus Rainbow Trust’s Parenting Worx sessions at the Die Kop. At the Parenting Sessions, the Vuka Presenter gave cooking demonstrations when appropriate and invited attendees to take turns to do the cooking, with instructions from the Vuka presenter. This was done so that at least some of the women experienced first-hand the method of on the fuel source for a minimum amount of time and then transferring the boiling pot of food to the DIY heat retention box which they had prepared before starting to cook. All women who were not at work during the weekday morning attended the Parenting Worx sessions and thus a large number of households were made aware of the new technologies. A motto of ‘each one teach one’ was repeated in the hope that they would show their friends and pass on the advantages of using some of the technologies.

e-Khaya Shack Replacement

e-Khaya committed to establish a modest ‘e-Khaya Research and Training Centre’ by the end of 2013, with entrepreneurs from the centre being trained by the centre starting in early 2014 in building their own small business enterprises. The organisation has made a great start on this commitment.

Together with Heart Capital, e-Khaya have built 6 modules at their Food Pod sites in Philippi and Kayamandi. Training of a team of 5 young men from Kayamandi in the techniques and technology of e-Khaya has been achieved. The goal of training and transfer of skills in building with alternative technologies has been achieved, though in a much smaller way than envisaged.  Great challenges remain in various areas - financial, community and partisan politics, technical and liability issues and land tenure.

e-Khaya have also been selected as a finalist for the Better Living Challenge and their module will be part of the showcase in October. 

Read more on e-Khaya here.