For generations, women have relied on firewood to prepare meals for their families, unaware of the silent health and environmental hazards it carries. At CCSHDI, we believe that every breath matters. That’s why we launched the Breathing Easy Campaign, a life-changing initiative to empower women with cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable cooking solutions.

Transforming Kitchens, Transforming Lives

The campaign focused on two vital goals:

  • Educating Women on the Dangers of Firewood Cooking: Participants learned how prolonged exposure to carbon dioxide (CO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) from firewood stoves can damage their lungs, cause respiratory illnesses, and even increase risks to their families’ health.
  • Providing Clean Energy Alternatives: Through our initiative, each participant received a clean energy gas cylinder, replacing their traditional firewood with a healthier, more efficient cooking solution.

Breaking Barriers Through Communication

Language should never be a barrier to learning. To ensure inclusivity and clarity, our educational sessions were delivered in Yoruba and English, creating a welcoming environment for all women, regardless of literacy level. The women were engaged in hands-on demonstrations and discussions, allowing them to ask questions and share their experiences.

Stories of our Impact: Voices from the Community

The impact of the Breathing Easy Campaign was visible not just in smiles but in stories.

  • A Renewed Sense of Hope: A mother of three shared how cooking with firewood often left her coughing late into the night, unable to breathe properly. After receiving a gas cylinder and learning about clean energy, she expressed gratitude, saying, “Now, my children won’t have to grow up around smoke.”
  • Economic and Environmental Relief: Another participant explained how she used to spend hours gathering firewood, a task that drained her energy and resources. With a gas cylinder, she now saves time and can focus on other aspects of her family’s well-being.
  • A New Understanding of Health Risks: The youths in attendance left the sessions equipped with knowledge about respiratory illnesses caused by firewood, and charcoal fires. One participant remarked, “I never knew the smoke was this dangerous. Now I understand how to protect my family.”

Building Healthier Futures Together

The Breathing Easy Campaign wasn’t just about distributing gas cylinders, it was about sparking a movement. By addressing the intersection of health, gender, and environmental sustainability, CCSHDI demonstrated how small, meaningful interventions can create lasting change.

Women in Kosofe are now ambassadors of clean energy, sharing their knowledge with neighbors and inspiring a ripple effect of awareness throughout their community.

Why This Matters

Cooking should nourish, not harm. Yet, millions of women across Nigeria face the dual burden of poor health and environmental degradation caused by outdated cooking methods. Through the Breathing Easy Campaign, CCSHDI is proving that with the right tools and education, we can turn the tide—one community at a time.

Join Us in Creating Cleaner, Healthier Communities

The Breathing Easy Campaign is only the beginning. Together, we can empower more women and families to embrace clean energy solutions and build a future where everyone can breathe easier. Contact Us to learn more about our work or partner with us on future campaigns.