Since 2018, Business for Better Society (BBS) has been committed to making a positive impact on the lives of the Afghan people. We began our journey with an adult literacy program in the Badakhshan province and have since expanded our efforts to address crucial issues faced by communities in rural areas throughout the province.
Our most recent project, building on the success of a pilot initiative, focuses on a critical and often overlooked challenge: household smoke. In collaboration with our local non-profit partner, SALEHO, we have received the approval of local authorities to implement a program aimed at reducing household smoke and wood consumption in rural villages, particularly benefiting women and children.
This project will feature a series of household health workshops attended by women (the series hosted 200 women in 2022) and the installation of redesigned breadmaking ovens in rural villages. During the pilot project 20 ovens were installed and in this phase the goal is the installation of an additional 40 ovens (the oven design is highlighted in the post photo above).
Why is this project so vital?
- Health Impact: The World Health Organization estimates that Household Air Pollution (HAP) in Afghanistan causes over 27,000 deaths annually including 3,000 by secondhand smoke. Women and children, who spend more time at home, are particularly vulnerable. By reducing household smoke, we aim to create healthier living environments, significantly improving the well-being of these families.
- Environmental Sustainability: These newly designed ovens not only reduce household smoke by over 20%, as proven by our successful pilot project, but they also cut wood consumption by an impressive 50%. This aligns with our commitment to environmental sustainability and supports communities in adopting more eco-friendly practices.
- Continuation of Success: The pilot project demonstrated tangible, positive results, and we are eager to expand our efforts. With your support, we can take this successful initiative to the next level and implement it in more villages, positively impacting the lives of countless Afghan families.
We believe that together we can make a lasting difference in the lives of those who need it most. We invite you to join us in this crucial endeavour by contributing to our fundraising campaign.
The cost to purchase and install one bread making oven is US$50. To donate and be part of this transformative project, please visit our appeal page on Aseel. For the pilot project we utilised the Aseel platform and because of the ease and expediency of processing donations and fulfilling the commitment to SALEHO, this is our platform of choice to continue our community work in Afghanistan.
Click here to visit our Aseel appeal page.
Your generosity will not only reduce household smoke and improve health but will also contribute to a more sustainable future for the communities we serve in Badakhshan.
Thank you for considering our appeal. Your continued support is invaluable and deeply appreciated.
