The scope of microfinance has changed and the majority of microlending banks now charge higher interest rates and promote larger loans. One reason for this is transaction costs, which can make issuing loans for less than $50 prohibitively expensive. … read more
“Change begins with each one of us,” Our Friend said. “It just needs three things: the right idea, its right execution, and the right people in contact with one another. Nothing else is required to make it happen.”… read more
Like many mothers in Kenya, Cecilia wakes up early to feed her children before school. It’s at the start of the day when her first decision regarding household energy must be made. Charcoal takes nearly 20 minutes just to heat up, unlike a gas flame which is available at the turn of a button. However,… read more
Envirofit International has surpassed 1 million carbon credits sold. As the global leader in the design, manufacture, and sale of technologically advanced, biomass cookstoves, Envirofit uses the proceeds from the sale of carbon credits to provide a boost to small scale clean cookstove enterprises with training, marketing and sales support. This support helps increase energy… read more
The scope of microfinance has changed and the majority of microlending banks now charge higher interest rates and promote larger loans. One reason for this is transaction costs, which can make issuing loans for less than $50 prohibitively expensive. … read more
Household energy in Ghana, as in much of the world, lies at the intersection between tradition, affordability and convenience. Energy like charcoal is reliable, affordable and readily available, and so it becomes a tradition that households are built around. But traditions can be updated if people see the value of changing them.… read more
Just as the monsoons started this year, the Envirofit India team watched in fascination as 50 women took their places at the ‘Maan Sugaran’ cooking competition in rural Maharashtra. Intended as a pilot, the competition was a way to bring users of our clean cookstove, the SuperSaver SPANDAN™, out into the open to show community… read more
Over the last 5 years, Envirofit’s Women’s Empowerment Program (WEP) has helped transform the lives of many hundreds of women. The program is designed to increase self-knowledge and guide women to develop an actionable growth strategy towards achieving personal goals. … read more
September 19th is a date for Mexicans that is difficult to forget. On the morning of that day this year, the 32nd anniversary of the 1985 Mexico City earthquake was commemorated. That earthquake was the most devastating the city has ever experienced, taking the lives of some 10,000 people.… read more
All Vatsala has ever pictured when asked to think of a ‘cookstove’ is the traditional mitti-ka-chulha. These traditional mud and brick constructions have always been used to prepare food - both in the village where she grew up, and in the one she entered as a young bride.… read more
