Asrayyan Sheba Sangstha (ASS) is a non-governmental development organization. It started its journey in 1995 in the Jessore district of Bangladesh. The organization was founded in order to help alleviate poverty and improve the environmental conditions in the rural areas in Jessore district of Bangladesh. ASS started initially with only 5 staff members. Today it has grown to include 32 staff members. During the 15 years of operation, ASS has been involved in various projects and programs including health and sanitation, women empowerment through training, human rights, prevention of human trafficking, and non-formal primary education. At present, ASS is actively involved in the dissemination of improved cook stoves (ICS) in the rural parts of Jessore district in Bangladesh. So far over 1700 ICS have been distributed in the Jessore district of Bangladesh.
Contact Information
Our Focus
Currently ASS is involved in marketing ICS, water and sanitation programs for rural people, women empowerment through training, and education. The programs of ASS are targeted mostly for the rural disadvantaged women and children.
Our Experience And Interest In The Four PCIA Central Focus Areas
The traditional stoves generate high amounts of smoke, heat and are responsible for large emissions of greenhouse gases. The use of traditional stoves can lead to the depletion of firewood at a faster rate than ICS. The use of ICS has reduced firewood consumption by as much as 40%, and as a result, also led to reduction in cooking times. This has mostly benefited the rural women, as it has led to improvement in their overall health conditions and saved cooking times, ultimately leading to improved social and economic conditions.
The market for use of ICS has been developed through door-to-door campaigns, village based group meetings, advertisement through loudspeaker, disbursement of leaflets on ICS, and holding ICS exhibitions locally. Initially some problems were faced due to the unwillingness of local people to accept the new technology. However, due to active marketing, over 1700 domestic and 20 commercial cook stoves have been built.
Initially the stoves were built of clay. Presently most of the stoves built are made of concrete that are manufactured by using prefabricated die sets. This has helped in standardizing the dissemination of the technology.
The stoves built by ASS are regularly monitored every 15 days by the assigned monitoring officers. Monthly meetings are held with the stove builders and monitoring officers. These measures help to ensure quality, and that the stoves are maintained in good condition. Positive feedback is received in over 95% of cases.
Relevant Publications or Studies
None noted
Our Contribution to the Partnership
ASS has trained manpower, stove and chimney manufacturing plants, and has actively contributed to the building and marketing of ICS technology since 2008. As such, ASS will be able to exchange views and ideas with organizations from other countries that are involved in similar types of work.
