Maasia Stoves

The Maasai live in mud huts with grass roofs that the women build. Throughout the developing world, there is a dangerous public health situation found in homes of pastoral people who cook indoors with open fires. The smoke is highly toxic, causing an international health challenge affecting millions. To address this challenge Maasai Partners successfully began a partnership with Maasai Stoves & Solar Project in 2015. The leaders of the Maasai Stoves & Solar train Maasia women to install smoke-removing, wood-burning chimney stoves. Each stove comes with a solar light. There is no electricity in mud huts.

With this partnership, homes will be healthier and children safer. Local people will have new ways to earn additional income.

With only a fraction of wood-gathering time required, women will be free to embrace other aspects of their lives, addressing poverty and attending school..

The Maasai pay what they can for the stoves and solar, but it is only a small portion of the actual cost. During our visit, Sisters for Peace had the incredible opportunity to see the women working together building the stoves.

There are many benefits to the Maasai Stoves & Solar Project:
1. Reduction of the polluting particulate level from cooking smoke by 90 percent, alleviating chronic coughing and head congestion, primarily in women and children.
2. One stove reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 3.6 metric tons per year
  • Reduction of carbon monoxide levels in the home by 90 percent, eliminating low-
    level poisoning.
  • 3. Eliminated the danger of burns to toddlers caused by open cooking fires in their
    homes.
  • 4. Pollution-free and odor-free lighting motivates kids to read and study.
  • 5. Maasai women who join stove installation teams are profoundly appreciative of the
    opportunity to learn to use tools and master construction and design challenges,
    and report feeling authentically empowered.
  • 6. Each stove saves the woman of the house 10-12 hours of weekly wood-gathering
    labor.
  • 7. Each stove saves 120 pounds of firewood per week, reducing deforestation.
  • 8. Greater appreciation of the power of a collective of women, and not just individual women.
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  • 9. Each Stove Cost $100




​Maasia Women’s Beading Project
Beadwork is a strong part of Maasai tradition and culture, and selling beads can be a major source of income for Maasai women.

​The women of Alailelai village produce exquisite beadwork.

SFP purchases beadwork directly from the women in Alailelai Ward which supports their beading project.