SCI at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) Forum

6:31 AM on Mar 18, 2024

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Solar Cookers International (SCI) hosted a webinar highlighting how solar cooking impacts women and girls worldwide, featuring guest speakers from Kenya, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic. The webinar was a Commission on the Status of Women (CSW 68) Virtual Parallel Event held on March 14th, 2024.

The inspiring panel of speakers included:

  • Miss Climate Kenya Dorcas Naishorua, Kenya 
  • Root of Generations Executive Director Grace Dorong, South Sudan 
  • Community Mobilization for Positive Empowerment (COMPE) Founder/CEO Rosemary Atieno, Kenya 
  • Central African Republic Civil Service Gender and Climate Change Focal Point Mme Mariam Amoudou Sidi 
  • SCI Executive Director Caitlyn Hughes 
  • SCI Strategic Partnerships Manager Keith Wingeard 
  • SCI Program and Operations Manager Sara Rosen 
  • SCI Research Specialist Justin Tabatchnick 

While Miss Climate Kenya Dorcas Naishorua emphasized the urgent need to focus on efforts to mitigate climate change, Root of Generations Executive Director Grace Dorong shared her remarkable life story of living in Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya for several years. Her deep insights into the harmful effects of indoor air pollution on the health of women and children greatly contribute to the ongoing momentum to bring modern cooking fuels to communities worldwide. Further adding to the discussion, Central African Republic (CAR) Civil Service Gender and Climate Change Focal Point Mme Mariam Amoudou Sidi shared, "Several studies have shown that wood is the main source of energy used for cooking food in households and the cost of alternate cooking energies such as gas, or oil, remain way out of reach... If CAR today wants to diversify its energy source by using solar ovens, I think the idea is welcome, because it will reduce expenses, especially since the sun is a gift of nature; it is free, you just need to have your sustainably-equipped solar oven."

Approximately 2.3 billion people cook over open fires around the globe, and women and girls carry the greatest burdens from this cooking method. Gathering fuel and cooking over open fires increases the risks of rape, premature deaths, burns, and disability. Solar cooking frees women from those burdens with an affordable, healthy, sustainable, off-grid solution. SCI advocates for adopting solar cooking to empower women and their families to live healthier and more sustainable lives while alleviating climate change.  

Please enjoy watching this informative and inspiring discussion and share it with anyone who you think may be interested. Thank you.