The Green Amayaga Project has provided cooking gas to schools in the Southern Province, helping them significantly reduce firewood consumption and the smoke that comes from burning wood resulting in cleaner and more hygienic kitchens.
Jean Claude Munyaneza, the Head Teacher of ES Ruhango, says the Green Amayaga intervention came as a solution to the school’s long standing challenge of sourcing firewood.
He explained:
“Since Green Amayaga provided us with gas, our firewood consumption has dropped drastically. Previously, each term we used between 300 and 350 steres of firewood. Now, we only use about 100 steres per term.”
He adds that cooking with gas has brought major financial relief:
“After receiving gas, we We will save between 500,000 and 700,000 Rwf per term on firewood alone. Today, those costs have reduced significantly.”
Munyaneza also notes that the school had even reached out to district leaders for support due to firewood shortages.
“Before, we struggled a lot and even requested help from the district to address the firewood issue. Since Green Amayaga came in, we no longer face that challenge.”
Another major benefit is improved cleanliness and hygiene in the school kitchens.
“We now have two kitchens. The gas kitchen is always clean, unlike the firewood kitchen which constantly gets dark and smoky. With firewood we must repaint the walls every term and apply aluminum polish on the shelves. Gas brings neatness, and that’s an advantage.”
He also highlighted the improvement in food quality:
“When cooking rice with firewood, about three cups would burn because the cook can’t regulate the heat well. With gas, heat is controlled, so the entire batch of rice cooks perfectly without burning.”
Gas has also improved the working conditions of kitchen staff.
“Our kitchen workers are now neat and no longer inhale smoke. Their overall health and comfort have improved.”
According to Munyaneza, the school buys gas twice per term, with each purchase consisting of 850 kilograms of gas. Procuring gas is also easier and more manageable compared to purchasing large quantities of firewood.
He concludes:
“Cooking with gas is faster and easier than cooking with firewood.”
Jean Baptist Shumbusho, a cooker at ES Ruhango, also praised the change:
“When we cooked with firewood, students sometimes ate late because the wood would fail to dry properly and slow down cooking. With gas, even when the firewood is wet, we turn to gas and cooking continues quicklystudents no longer delay mealtimes.”
According to Remy Songa, the Green Amayaga Project Manager, 20 schools were supported with Giants LP Gas, have received cooking gas,5 Schools each District through the project.
Marie Chantal Nyirabera
