CHF International Assists Women in Darfur
How Fuel-Efficient Stoves Help Protect Sudanese Women from Assault
Jan 17, 2009
While the camps for Sudanese refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) provide some degree of safety and security, there are few resources within these camps and many women are forced to travel outside the confines of the shelter to scavenge for firewood or drinking water. Outside the perimeter, these women are often beaten and gang-raped by the Arab militia.
Sadly, these atrocities are not a new phenomenon. In fact, New York Times Op-Ed writer Nicholas Kristof told of the situation of mass rape in Darfur back in November 2005. In his article, “Sudan’s Department of Gang Rape,” Kristof put a face to a tragedy. He told the story of Noura Moussa and the sexual assault that she had endured when she ventured out of the camp to cut grass that she could sell to help provide for her siblings. He went on to tell the story of two other women like her, stories that are rarely heard in the West. Through their experiences, Kristof underlines the stigma of rape in Sudan and the heroism of these women.
Saving Lives with Fuel-Efficient Stoves
Three years later, gang rape is still a consistent problem for the women of Darfur. That’s where the CHF (Cooperative Housing Foundation) International and a 17-year-old high school student from Maryland enter the picture. CHF International, which has been working on a variety of projects in Sudan since 2004, has now teamed up with Spencer Brodsky, a 17-year-old activist, to help raise money for fuel-efficient stoves.
The idea is simple: fuel-efficient stoves burn 70-75% less wood. That means fewer trips outside the camps for the Darfurian women. It also means more time with their families, greater autonomy and control over their lives, and the potential to invest more time in other projects that could generate income.
The stoves cost a mere $30 and CHF takes responsibility for the delivery and disbursement. Brodsky is at the fore-front of awareness and fundraising. The teen, who is Jewish, says he heard his elders comparing the situation in Darfur to the Holocaust. Armed with that knowledge, there was no time for complacency and he began to take action. So far, he has helped raise enough money to purchase 420 stoves!
The Power of One
As Brodsky continues in his own efforts, he is strongly encouraging others to take part. Not afraid of a challenge, the teen has illustrated by both his actions and his words that everyone can make a difference. As he was quoted as saying in Larry Lazo’s article “Stoves Help Keep Darfur’s Women out of Harm’s Way,” it’s all about the “power of one. The power of change and that we can make a difference.”
To learn more about the stove project or to make a contribution, please visit the CHF International website.
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