In Kyaka II refugee settlement, the Live in Green enterprise turns food and crop waste into cooking fuel and builds stoves. Founded by Congolese refugee Solomon Bhaghabhonerano, the project now produces several tonnes of briquettes each day from materials such as maize cobs, banana peels and sawdust. Live in Green began a tree nursery in 2016 but shifted in 2021 to large-scale briquette production after planting alone failed to stop tree cutting for fuel.
The team refined briquette designs so they light more easily and burn longer, and they manufacture simple cookstoves for community use. Refugees collect organic waste and many gain employment in collection and processing. Users report cost savings and greater convenience; one refugee said the briquettes burn longer and help when monthly stipends fall. The founder called a recent grant "a game-changer."
Experts have praised the project's scale and waste-recovery centre, while some researchers warn that removing organic matter can reduce soil nutrients. Live in Green says it uses a holistic approach, combining reforestation plots with organised organic-waste collection across Kyaka II.
Difficult words
- enterprise — a company or organisation that runs projects
- briquette — a small block of compressed organic materialbriquettes
- sawdust — small wood particles left after cutting wood
- nursery — place where young trees are grown for plantingtree nursery
- stipend — a regular small payment for living or workstipends
- grant — money given to support a project or activity
- holistic — treating a problem by considering all parts
- reforestation — planting trees to restore a forested area
- waste-recovery centre — a place where usable materials are retrieved from waste
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Discussion questions
- What are the main advantages and possible disadvantages of large-scale briquette production in Kyaka II? Give reasons from the article.
- How could combining reforestation plots with organised organic-waste collection reduce the environmental risk mentioned by researchers?
- In what ways might employment in waste collection and processing affect refugees' lives and incomes in the settlement?
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