– ‘Boss Women’ improving their livelihoods with briquette project
When one looks at the statistics of how many individuals dominate a particular field, it’s clear that many industries are heavily male-dominated, with women seldom entering.
However, some women are charting a new course for themselves as they venture into these fields.
These women are from the Yarrowkabra Coal Burners Association (YCBA), who have recently received a grant and are now part of a briquette programme.
The project, supported by the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP) in Guyana, aims to improve the livelihoods of charcoal burners in Yarrowkabra by transitioning to charcoal briquette production.
“We have four to five members, twelve males, thirty-three females,” said Keisha Higgins, the Chairperson of the YCBA.
YCBA members, Nicole Clarke, Keisha Higgins, and Althea Peters
In a recent interview, Keisha shared how their organisation is moving forward.
A “briquette project” involves converting agricultural waste or other biomass into dense, fuel-efficient briquettes, offering a sustainable and cleaner alternative to traditional fuels like charcoal and firewood, especially in developing regions.
The project promotes sustainability by utilizing wood waste, reducing emissions, and providing a cleaner alternative to traditional charcoal burning.
“Before we got the grant, we would just normally sell our coals, but now that we’ve received the grant, we’re able to develop our organisation. The briquette project is basically using our waste, which would be fine coals, to create briquettes,” Keisha explained.
Material used in the project. A briquette is a compressed block of coal dust or other combustible biomass material
She added that there are vast similarities between the two products, which can be used in similar ways. “Just like charcoal, you can use it to bake, you can use it for barbecuing—anything that you can use charcoal for, you can use briquettes for.”
According to her, nothing can stand in the way of someone who chases their dreams, just as the women from the YCBA have done. “Nothing is impossible. Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do it. We all, as women here, are doing it, and we get it done.”
Meanwhile, Nicole Clarke, a member of the YCBA, revealed that the project provides them with a steady income, which is especially important since there aren’t many job opportunities in her community. In the Coal Burners Association, she added that she can earn a livelihood.
“The growth of this project isn’t stopping here,” she continued. “We’re actually taking in more members because it will create more job opportunities for young males and females out there who don’t have jobs.”
