Environment protection: Briquette Making Initiative Empowers Women and Men in Kotido District

13 June 2025, 8:02 pm

By Bondry Kilenga

A groundbreaking initiative is underway in Kotido district, where selected women and men are being trained in briquette making under the supervision of green leaf consults.

This innovative project aims to empower the community economically while promoting environmental sustainability by utilizing waste materials such as groundnut husks, sorghum straw, cow dung, charcoal dust, and bones.

The district environment officer, Joel Olal Okello who is also the team leader at Green Leaf consults, has welcomed the initiative, recognizing its potential to benefit both the environment and the local community. “This project is a great example of community led sustainable development,” he said. “By promoting environmental sustainability and economic empowerment, we can create a brighter future for the community.”

The briquette making process involves collecting and processing waste materials, which are then compressed into compact briquettes.

Olal believes these briquettes can be used as a sustainable alternative to traditional fuels, reducing the community’s reliance on wood and charcoal. By utilizing waste materials, the community can reduce its environmental footprint and promote a cleaner, healthier environment.

The project is expected to provide economic benefits to the community. By creating a sustainable business model, the community can generate income and improve their livelihoods. The project will also create employment opportunities for the trained individuals, enabling them to support themselves and their families.

Betty Napio, a beneficiary of the project, expressed her excitement about the initiative. “This project will save the time of women who always commute long distances in search for firewood,” she said. “It will also help us to reduce our reliance on charcoal and promote a cleaner environment.”

Calisto Lojok, another beneficiary, is positive that the involvement of men in the project will help to promote its adoption. “With the involvement of men, we will be advocates for this initiative and promote its benefits to others,” he said. “It is also an alternative for charcoal burning, which will help to reduce deforestation and promote forest conservation.”

The Akore John Bosco, secretary of the elders council, has urged that the training be extended to elders so that they can be ambassadors for the project. “The elders play a crucial role in promoting community development initiatives,” he said. “By training them, we can ensure that they are equipped to promote the benefits of this project to others.”

Akore says “the briquette making initiative is a shining example of community-led sustainable development. By promoting environmental sustainability and economic empowerment, the project is helping to create a brighter future for the community. With the support of dedicated leaders and the active participation of community members, this project can serve as a model for other communities to follow.”

The project’s environmental benefits are numerous. By providing a sustainable alternative to traditional fuels, the project can reduce deforestation and promote forest conservation.

The utilization of waste materials will also reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, promoting a cleaner environment. Additionally, the briquettes produced through this project can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing a cleaner and more efficient source of energy.