Alternative Fuel in Kenya

We spoke with citizens in Ndabibi and learned a great deal about how they cook and the fuel they are using to do so. Firewood is the most popular fuel because it is cheaper and easier to attain than charcoal; however it produces more smoke and harmful vapors. Everybody seems to have spare maize cobs because livestock do not eat them, but they are very smoky and can not be used to cook indoors so they are often disposed of by being thrown into the street. The corn husk is a waste material in abundance, and it is ideal for making charcoal. 

Over the summer of 2013 I was fortunate to work on my biofuel project with Josphat and the community in Ndabibi, Kenya. An old water heater that we found in a scrap yard turned out to be a perfect miniature charcoal making kiln. Minah, who works at the NECC with Josphat helped me punch holes in the bottom of the water heater. Josphat's daughter helped me load the kiln with dry leaves, sticks, and corncobs that he has been saving to use as fuel. Once the kiln was finished and cool we ground up the charcoal to use as powder. 

piga picha!

The packaging on these disposable cameras prompted students to photograph various subjects at home or with their friends at school. We were very happy to see the film when it was developed. The photographs are very beautiful and intimate images of the students day to day: with their family cooking dinner, portraits of pets and livestock, the view over a maize field while the sun is setting.