Last weekend I was visiting Sister Elena Albarracin and her Malnutrition Center in the General Hospital in Bukavu. They are fearlessly pressing fuel briquettes on a daily basis, to be consumed in the hospital (preparing the food for the malnourished children), used by the pressing machine workers at home and sold to the public.

Gertrude and Sister Elena proudly showing their dry fuel briquette stock

They have invented a new model of stove to burn the fuel briquettes. Two versions have been made: a regular size for small pans, and a bigger one that takes the big local pans (for the popular crowed families in the DR Congo!)

The regular stove on the front, bigger version at the back

On Sunday the 8th of March we celebrated Women’s International Day with the workers responsible for the fuel briquette press machine, all girls who are single adolescent mothers and now being employed by Sister Elena on this project.