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Suba, Africa
Green Forest Social Initiative
Project overview
• Increase economic strength of families in Gwassi
• Expand economic activities in the area
• Increase local opportunities
• Invest in children’s rights, environmental rehabilitation and sustainable energy
• Expand economic activities in the area
• Increase local opportunities
• Invest in children’s rights, environmental rehabilitation and sustainable energy
Project description
The challenge
The protracted drought in Gwassi Hills is interrupted occasionally by sudden downpours of rain that wash away the fertile soil. There is less and less forest to prevent or curb these mudflows, because more trees are being felled than are being replanted. After all, charcoal is the main source of energy for the inhabitants. Families can scarcely make ends meet. That is why boys already have to go to work early to supplement the family income and girls are married off at an early age. For many children, school is simply not an option.
The changers
The lack of educated people and good infrastructure results in economic isolation. There is hardly any work to be had. To help the economy in the area along, the Green Forest Social Initiative stimulates entrepreneurship in the population itself. It supports families in developing and selling products that are important in the region, such as charcoal, bio fuel, aloe and honey.
The protracted drought in Gwassi Hills is interrupted occasionally by sudden downpours of rain that wash away the fertile soil. There is less and less forest to prevent or curb these mudflows, because more trees are being felled than are being replanted. After all, charcoal is the main source of energy for the inhabitants. Families can scarcely make ends meet. That is why boys already have to go to work early to supplement the family income and girls are married off at an early age. For many children, school is simply not an option.
The changers
The lack of educated people and good infrastructure results in economic isolation. There is hardly any work to be had. To help the economy in the area along, the Green Forest Social Initiative stimulates entrepreneurship in the population itself. It supports families in developing and selling products that are important in the region, such as charcoal, bio fuel, aloe and honey.
The change
Thanks to the Green Forest Social Initiative, there are now ‘production units’ in Gwassi Hills where raw materials are processed into products. The initiative (as ‘GFSI Ltd’) also guarantees the sale of those products for a fair price. Moreover, it invests (as ‘GFSI Trust’) in social development. For instance, by supporting a secondary school for girls. By working on the protection of children. And by reducing the dependence on charcoal as a source of energy, for instance through the generation of solar energy.
Some results so far:
- 267 farmers keep bees and obtain around 2145 kg honey per year.
- They sell the honey to GFSI Ltd and thus increase their communal yearly income by € 2,400.
- Together, 191 farmers planted 211,731 fast-growing trees for the production of charcoal.
- 340 farmers cultivate jatropha bushes. The oil from the seeds is used for bio fuel.
- 12 farmers cultivate aloe. The cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries use the jelly from the leaves.
- Since February 2011, 40 girls have enrolled at the Kagoro girls’ school.
- In two villages, the households are now connected to solar energy.
