Fijian Minister for Women Rosy Akbar officiates at the Fiji Rocket Stove Graduation.

Tamavua, Suva -

The story below was taken from the Fiji Times issue dated Monday the 20th of April, 2015, as  authored by Miss Salaseini Moceiwai.
The Fiji Times

SOME disadvantaged families in the country will soon buy less firewood for cooking following the launch of the rocket stove project in Suva on Friday. The project, initiated by the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, was piloted at LDS Church College in Tamavua early this year where about 30 students had the opportunity to make such stoves.

The students were recognised for their efforts when they were awarded certificates from line minister Rosy Akbar in front of the whole school and its management last Friday.

Ms Akbar said the project was dear to their hearts because of its financial advantage to poor families amidst the serious effects of climate change presently affecting the world.

"The rocket stove initiative is a noble project that we invested in to support women, children and the disadvantaged," Ms Akbar said.

"The rising cost of living and the demand for low cost of cooking options drove us to this project. Rocket stoves contribute towards the alleviation of the financial burden on families as well. The stoves are very efficient in saving firewood, time, money and the environment when compared to traditional open fire cooking methods.

"The stoves produced at this school will assist women and families in climate change adaptation and mitigation too.

"Communities can be assisted to adapt climate change and the rocket stove is one of that response. The stoves are capable of mitigating greenhouse gases released from traditional open fire cooking methods. Since the stoves are more efficient in terms of quantity of firewood, we will be able to minimise deforestation."

Ms Akbar added they were currently pursuing the potency rights to the ministry for the stoves.

"We thank the stove designer who is our projects officer, Ravulo Naulumatua. This is our very first training facilitated by the ministry with a secondary school in Fiji and we will remember today that a milestone is achieved in terms of our humanitarian cause."

School principal Michael Carthew said they were happy to have worked with the ministry on the project.