No longer cold!

Peng Rei and her brother PengZhen live in the countryside in YongShun in Hunan Province in China.  They live there together with their grandma and their mum. They belong to an ethic minority group in China called the TuJia people. They have their own traditions and culture which are a bit different from most Chinese people. Because they belong to an ethnic minority group, their parents got permission to have more than one child.

Rei (the girl) is in third grade and Zhen (the boy) is in fourth grade. Reis` favourite food is cabbage and rice, but Zhens’ favourite is definitely meat. Zhen likes Mathematics, but his sister Rei likes all the subjects at school. 

They both are happy to have a sibling, because they can play together when they have finished their homework. They both enjoy school. However, life has not always been so easy.

When Rei was newborn, their father went to the city to seasonal work. It is very common in China for farmers go to the big cities to find work for 8-11 months a year leaving their kids with grandparents (or their mother) on the farm to take care of any animals and farming. This way, the parents are able to earn enough money for the family to live on. However, since their father went to the city nine years ago, they have not heard from him. They suspect that there may have been an accident and they presume him to have died, but they are not sure. Their mother, Peng ShuiYing (36), has therefore been taking care of the children and her mother-in-law, Chen YinNan (80). It has not been easy to make ends meet. Certain periods of the year, they have not had enough food for their family and YongShun is very cold, also inside, so the winters are tough if you clothes are not warm enough. 

Last year, their mum, Peng ShuiYing, started a course in Brocading which is a part of the International Biogas Project in China. The type of brocading art she is doing is unique for their ethnic group, the TuJia people. So, when Rei and Zhen are at school and she does not need to work on the fields, their mum is now making very pretty carpets. She is able to sell these easily, and they thus have some additional income. They are not rich, but life has become a lot better than it used to be says their mum Peng ShuiYing.

“Now, I have got a new winter coat and don’t need to be cold any longer! » says Rei with a big smile on her face and shyly but proudly shows me her new pink coat. “Now, we have got pencils and notebooks and can do our homework better” says Zhen. What is the best think about mum being able to do Brocade? I ask. “The best thing is that we can eat meat!” says Zhen and smiles so that his eyes light up. In the countryside in China, many families are so poor that they cannot afford eating meat except for perhaps once a year at Chinese New Year (this is a celebration that in some ways is similar to Christmas celebrations in Europe). This was also the case for this family.  «Since mum started doing brocade, we eat meat almost 10 times a month! » says Zhen and gives me another big smile. 

Maybe you're wondering what to give as a Christmas gift to someone who already has much of what they need? Supporting a family through this project can give an entire family a better future. Find out how you can support this project here.

Art For a Better Life.

"Hi Uncle!" calls Peng ShuSan (3) as he climbs on to the loom with a cute smile on his face. The three-year old has a lot of energy and is in a good mood. It is the first time he has met a foreigner, and he says that he is excited to meet a "real foreigner".

We have been invited into the home of Mi ErMei (38) and are received with warm smiles even though it is cold in the apartment. She belongs to the Tujia ethnic group, and has recently completed a brocading course for women. This training course is part of the International Biogas Project that NMS runs in YONGSHUN, located in Hunan Province in China. The course taught her how to make traditional Tujua brocade pictures and rugs. This course gives life to an old tradition and simultaneously provides much needed income for Mi ErMei and the other women who are taking part in this course.

Mi ErMei’s husband died earlier this year. Although she is smiling, her face is marked by sorrow. The time is approaching nine o'clock at night and it is dark outside. However, her daughter, Peng Shuyi (12) is still at school where she has evening lessons. Evening lessons entails that she needs to eat at the school cafeteria, which means an additional expense. Mi ErMei knows exactly how much dinner at the cafeteria costs and although the cafeteria is very cheap, it has an impact on her tight budget. A few months ago, she did not know how she would cope financially after her husband's death. How would she be able to pay for her daughter’s schooling? The vegetables from their farm alone are not sufficient to even give the kids enough food. With the loom and her newfound skills, she is upbeat about the future. Now she can do brocade when it suits her and the rugs she makes provides a very welcome additional income.

Mi ErMei throws a ball on the cement floor of the apartment, and Peng ShuSan runs to catch it. The small apartment is sparsely decorated and there are two cheap broken suitcases and some broken toys next to the chair I'm sitting on. As I look around, I think to myself that they would get more space if they threw away these things. Then it strikes me that in Europe we often think that the poor have nothing. This is partly true - they often have very little. However, poor people in this community are also too poor to be able to throw away things that are broken or that they do not need at the moment. Being able to buy something later is a privilege of the rich. But that is obviously not what Mi ErMei is concerned about today. Right now she is very grateful because she has the loom that she has received from NMS. It helps her to be able to buy meat for her children almost every week.

Do you have something to be thankful for? Perhaps the amount of freedom you have? Or are you thankful for your safety or health? Do you want to contribute to give more freedom and security to poor women who, like Mi ErMei, who want to earn a living in a dignified way without having to worry unnecessarily about tomorrow?

This brocading course for women is part of the International Biogas project that provides biogas to poor farmers in China and Madagascar. Women have more disposable time once they have a biogas digester on their farm because they no longer need to collect wood etc. For this reason, this project started several courses in China and Madagascar which gives women an opportunity to use their newfound leisure time in a way that can improve their life and family income. This course is a brocading course for women and Mi ErMei is one of the participants. Do you want to support the International Biogas project and help to change the lives of women like Mi ErMei?

Give a donation to this project here. 

Pancakes and the mountain of bachelors.

Luo LingShen (58) lives on "GuangGu'er Shan" in YONGSHUN in Hunan Province, China. GuangGu'er Shan means "the mountain of bachelors." The reason for this name is that life is tough out here. Because the tradition in China is for women to move to their husband's home and become part of his family when they marry, the name implies that life is so tough here that women don’t want to marry men from this village because they don’t want to live there.

Luo LingShen lives here with his wife Xiang Zhenying (54) and his mother (84). Their son works as a seasonal worker in a city in ZheJiang Province. They have sheep and two cows, but life on "the mountain of bachelors" is not always easy.

Luo Xiang and Zhenying LingShen are one of the many families who dream of installing biogas on their farm.

Biogas is formed when animal and human dung is converted into methane gas in a tank under the ground. This gas has no smell or smoke, and can be used for cooking and lighting. When the mixture has released its gas, it comes out as a high quality organic fertiliser. That means that LuoingShen and his family not only get gas for cooking and lighting, but also high quality organic fertilizer that increases crop yields.

In addition to increased revenue, reduced costs and more free time for poor farmers, biogas is helping to improve the status of women, health and hygiene, and protecting the environment.

Over the past five years, NMS has made it possible for over 1,000 families in YONGSHUN in Hunan to have biogas on their farms. Over the next year we want to provide biogas for several families like LuoZiPing and YuTiuanHong on "The Bachelor Mountain." Would you like to help make this possible?

Today, many Christians in the UK and other countries around the world celebrate Pancake Day by eating pancakes. The reason is that Lent starts tomorrow and making pancakes finishes up all of the last eggs in the house. Lent is a gift - a time for reflection and a simpler life. It is also traditional to give up something you enjoy during Lent. It can be anything from ice cream, sweets, coffee, meat or even meal each day. This is a golden opportunity to give the money that you save on e.g. sweets or coffee to people who are in need. That way, we can fast the way the Lord asks us to:

5 

Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
    only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
    and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
    a day acceptable to the Lord?

6 “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness[a] will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

Isaiah 58:5-8

New International Version (NIV)

How about trying to give up something that you like during Lent this year and give the money to one of NMS's great projects? Through the International f Biogas project you can help to provide biogas for farmers both in China as well as Madagascar where we seek to transfer this ingenious technology. Do you want to join in this adventure that is both helping to combat poverty, protect the environment and improve women's health? If you’re interested, you can support this project here.

Dreaming of biogas

Xie LuQian ( 61 ) and Yan GanLian ( 50 ) in YONGSHUN in Hunan province in China have a dream.

They are in good physical shape, but feel that they are both old and find farming tiring as all three of their children have moved to the city. They have not yet approached retirement age by western standards, but in China they would both normally be retired long ago if they had a normal job in a city. Xie LuQian (61) has in fact already lived longer than average in the rural population of China. The average life expectancy in the countryside of China is actually under 60 years. So, it is perhaps not surprising that they feel that they are getting old.

"I would really like a biogas tank on the farm," says Xie LuQian and smiles. "It would be very nice to not have to pick twigs and wood any longer. Cooking would be so much easier" said Yan GanLian and wince slightly as she stretches a tired arm.  A biogas tank would save her many hours of work each day she explains.

Yan Gan Lian also thinks that it would be nice to get rid of all the dirt from the two cows in an easy way. It makes the farm much cleaner and hygienic.

This simple construction helps us get rid of  something we do not want (animal and human waste) and turns it into clean energy (for cooking and lighting) and free organic fertilizer of high quality that does not smell. In fact, the agricultural production in this grand country is in fact responsible for more pollution than the industry. Reducing the carbon footprint of agriculture through the use of biogas is therefore a key to improving the environment.

Many women I have spoken to about biogas are particularly excited about the prospect of having a smoke-free kitchen after getting biogas. I ask if this is important to this couple. " No no smoking in the kitchen and need to collect wood? Then I'll be healthy even though I'm old!" says Yan Gan Lian, laughing.

Mr. Xie LuQian ( 61 ) and his wife , Yan GanLian ( 50 ) dream of biogas on the farm.

  

How does the biogas tank work?
Biogas is formed when animal (or human) dung and other compost are inserted into the digester and become methane gas in the tank under the ground. This gas has no smell or smoke and can be used for cooking and lighting fires. When the mixture has released the gas, it comes out as organic fertilizer of high quality. That means Xie LuQian and Yan GanLian not only get gas for cooking and light, but they also receive high quality organic fertilizer that increases their crop yields.

In addition, to increase revenue, reduce costs and free up time for poor farmers, biogas is helping to improve the status of women, improving health and hygiene, as well as protecting the environment.Over the past five years, NMS has made it possible for over 1,000 families in YONGSHUN in Hunan to get biogas on their farms. During this year we want to help to provide biogas for several families including Mr. Xie LuQian ( 61 ) and his wife Yan GanLian . Through the "International Biogas Project" we are able to provide biogas for farmers both in China and Madagascar.

Would you like to fulfil the dreams of Xie LuQian and Yan GanLian?  

Have you planned your vacation this year? Are you traveling by air this year? Then you can buy “Carbon Offset” from NMS while helping Xie LuQian ( 61 ) and his wife Yan GanLian and others in their village to get biogas on the farm and thus reduce poverty, protect the environment and to improve women's health.

If you’re in the UK (or if you have UK bank account), you can support the project here. If can read Norwegian, you can give one-off gift to the project here or support the project regularly here. If you live in another country and would like to support this project, please send us an e-mail and we will let you know the best way. 

Biogas Makes Life Better!

Zhang MingGan (58) and his wife Luo Decui (56) are really happy to have received a biogas digester for their home through the International Biogas project that NMS operates YONGSHUN in Hunan Province, China.
The couple belongs to the Tujia ethnic group and has five adult children: four daughters and a son. All the children are married and working in big cities, so the couple unfortunately does not have any help on the farm. For this reason, they are very happy that they no longer need to collect wood in the forest. "It was a pain and took a lot of time," says Zhang MingGan, smiling. Now the kitchen is clean and cooking is quicker and easier Zhang says. "Now food can be made in 20 minutes! Before, the cooking often took half the day”. Now they enjoy improved hygiene and a better life, but Zhang is probably most enthusiastic about the increased yields in the years to come as a result of the organic fertilizer that comes out as a "bonus product" from the biogas tank after the methane gas has disappeared. He has noticed that the crops already are better than before. Mr Zhang is thankful that he can use the organic fertilizer from the biogas tank on his garlic, onions, cabbages, carrots and oranges.

In a simple way, MingGan Zhang’s and Luo Decui’s (56) biogas tank helps to protect the environment and makes their lives easier and better in terms of finance, time and health. In addition, the biogas digester is also very good for the environment.
How does the biogas tank work? Biogas is formed when animal (or human) dung and other compost are inserted into the digester and become methane gas in the tank under the ground. This gas has no smell or smoke and can be used for cooking and lighting fires. When the mixture has released the gas, it comes out as organic fertilizer of high quality. That means Qingxiu Zhang and Gu Zhengyi not only get gas for cooking and light, but they also receive high quality organic fertilizer that increases their crop yields.

Biogas has clearly made life better for Zhang MingGan (58) and his wife Luo Decui (56). Over the past five years, NMS has made it possible for over 1,000 families in YONGSHUN in Hunan to have biogas on their farms. Now we want to help to provide biogas for several families in YONGSHUN as well as in Madagascar where we seek to transfer the technology. Do you want to make this possible?

Did you know Chinese New Year has just passed? Many farmers in YONGSHUN dream of starting a new year that is better than last year. Would you like to give a New Year's gift that helps to combat poverty, protects the environment and improves women's health? To give an entire tank of biogas for a family in YONGSHUN costs only 100 Pounds. You can give an entire tank (or a half, or a tenth) to one of Zhang MingGan's neighbours. The amount is up to you. If you’re in the UK (or if you have UK bank account), you can support our project here. If can read Norwegian, you can give one-off gift to the project here or support the project regularly here. If you live in another country and would like to support this project, please send us an e-mail and we’ll let you know the best way.

The Brilliant Flame!

Zhang Qingxiu (56) and his wife Gu Zhengyi (49) are really happy to have biogas at 

home! They have received biogas through the International Biogas project that NMS is running in their home village in YONGSHUN, China.

We are standing in their kitchen where they make the lunch ready for us while we talk. "Look how clean it is; no dust or smoke! Very different from life before we got the biogas digester! The kitchen, toilet and animal pen is much cleaner and everything is more hygienic "says Zhang Qingxiu while cutting potatoes into thin strips. They both belong to the Tujia ethnic group, a minority ethnic group in China. For the Tujia and other men in South China, it is not unusual for them to help in the kitchen, especially on special occasions, although women generally do the cooking in the everyday life.

Gu Zhengyi pours a little oil into a wok, and says "see," with a big smile before she lights the flame by turning on a switch. "Before we had to go to great lengths to gather twigs that were hard to find and we spent a lot of time on it. When we cooked, it took a long time to light a fire to cook. Now, we can just turn on a switch; and the flame is there! “says Gu Zhengyi and smiles again.

And it is this simple little flame that simultaneously heats food for this family, lights up the room at night, improves women’s health and burns away the polluting methane gas (whilst also reducing deforestation and carbon emissions as the use of wood and charcoal is no longer necessary) .

Their oldest son, Zhang Guodong (3 ) comes into the smoke free kitchen with his ten month-old daughter ZhangWenXu in his arms. Zhang Guodong and his wife Huo Fang (28) live and work in Shanghai but they have come home to celebrate Chinese New Year with their family, as is the tradition.

For Chinese New Year, people traditionally eat a lot of food, especially food that they would not usually have. "This year we have a lot of delicious food to celebrate with- we have had a bigger harvest than ever before," says Zhang Qingxiu, pointing to large sacks of potatoes. But potatoes are not the only crops that have had a good year because of the high quality organic fertilizer that comes out of the biogas tank after methane gas is evaporated. All of the crops they grow on the farm have had a good harvest: peanuts, corn, sweet potatoes, and yellow beans. "What are you most looking forward to eating for New Year?”I ask Zhang Guodong. "These!" he says, pointing to a chicken walking around the yard pecking at a dry corn grain on the ground.

Biogas has clearly made ​​life better for Qingxiu Zhang and Gu Zhengyi. Over the past five years, NMS has made it possible for over 1,000 families in YONGSHUN in Hunan to get biogas on their farms. Now we want to help to provide biogas for several families in YONGSHUN as well as in Madagascar where we seek to transfer the technology. Do you want to make this possible? You can give a gift to this project here. Have you planned your vacation yet this year? Are you traveling by air? If so, you can make your flights “greener" by buying Carbon Offsets from NMS while enabling farmers in YongShun to get biogas on her farm, thus reducing poverty, protecting the environment and improving women's health. You can buy carbon offsets from this project. For an international flight, we recommend a donation of 30 British Pounds. You can make a donation here.

 

How do the biogas tanks work? Biogas is formed when animal or human dung and other forms of compost are inserted into a pipe and become methane gas in a tank under the ground. This gas has no smell or smoke, and can be used for cooking and lighting. When the mixture has released the gas, it comes out as a high quality organic fertilizer. This means that Qingxiu Zhang and Gu Zhengyi not only get gas for cooking and lighting, they also get good organic fertilizer that increases crop yields.

In addition to increasing revenue, reducing farming costs and freeing up time for poor farmers, biogas is helping to improve the status of women, improving health and hygiene, as well as protecting the environment.

A New Start!

               Zhang Qian (张 骞- 40) is delighted to learn the traditional art of brocading and has big dreams.

               She belongs to the Tujia people, and is now attending a brocading course for women who are part of the International Biogas Project that NMS operates in YONGSHUN, located in Hunan Province in China. The course teaches her how to do traditional Tujua brocade.

               The unemployed, single mother looks at this course as a unique opportunity to start a new life for herself and her son, Tian Youping (14). The opportunity to learn a skill that can help her to earn a living is obviously important in a corner of China where it is difficult to find work. Getting enough money for rent, food and school fees for her son has not been easy, especially when she used to work as a cleaner or a nanny. For Zhang Qian, however, this course is much more than just an opportunity to earn a living; she has a big dream.

               She became a Christian a few years ago, when she was in the city of Wenzhou as a migrant worker at one of the city's many factories. One of the other workers at the factory told her about Jesus and it changed her life completely. "Jesus gives life hope, meaning and joy" she says, smiling broadly. "As a Christian, I have peace and feel much better no matter how my (external) situation is”. She also says that she experiences the church's care for her.

               Zhang Qian thinks that she is possibly the only Christian participant in this brocade course, but nonetheless has big plans. Once she had learned the art of brocade, she wants to start teaching it to other women in the small Church. "Together we can maybe make a small factory and make some money to help the poor in our village" says Zhang Quan with a big smile and a lot enthusiasm.

               This brocading course for women is part of the International Exchange of Biogas that provides biogas to poor farmers in China and Madagascar. The women have more time once they have biogas on the farm because they no longer have to collect wood or other fuels. Due to increase in free time, this project also started several courses in China and Madagascar that give women the opportunity to use their new-found leisure time in a way that can improve their life and family income. This brocading course is one of the courses available to women and Zhang Qian is one of the participants. Do you want to support the International Exchange Program for Biogas?

               Maybe you're wondering what to give as a Christmas gift to someone who already has much of what they need? For 100 Pounds Sterling, you can give a whole biogas tank to a farmer in Zhang Quan’s home county, YongShun. This Christmas gift could combat poverty and improve women's health all in one! A gift that keeps women in Yongshun for so many years is a unique gift! An Ipad, mobile phone or computer rarely lasts more than 4-5 years but a tank of biogas can last generations and provide an entire family a better future. Find out how you can support this project here. 

From scepticism to joy!

Peng Yueling ( 30) and her husband , He Qiwan ( 35 ), who live in Hunan province in China looked forward to getting biogas on the farm. However, they were a bit anxious about the fact that inexperienced strangers from Madagascar would be doing the job of building the biogas tank.

Why?
NMS have been running successful biogas projects in China for Many years. Through the “International Biogas project”, we are seeking to transfer this biogas success to our partner Church in Madagascar by training technicians and farmers in Madagascar and building biogas digesters in both Madagascar and China. As a part of their training, five technicians from Madagascar came to China for 7 weeks to study biogas technology in our project area in YongShun in Hunan Province. As a part of their training, these technicians helped built the biogas digesters of farmers in China who were not able to build their digester on their own, like Peng Yueling and He Qiwan.

 

Scepticism

Not surprisingly, this family of four was very interested in getting a biogas digester as it would make their lives much easier. Mr He Qiwan works in Guangzhou City and is away from the farm most of the year. As their two children are quite young and they have no relatives who can lend a hand, they accepted the offer of help from the Malagasy biogas apprentices.

However, their scepticism actually increased when Peng Yueling met the technicians for the first time - they were smiling and friendly. From my cultural perspective I interpreted this to mean that they were not serious and would not do a good job, she admits. However, she relatively quickly changed her mind: - I soon discovered that they worked very hard and were talented. We are very pleased with the biogas tank we built together, she says.

Results

Peng Yueling did not only get a biogas tank. She also got new friends. Tears rolled down her face as the technicians finished the job and returned to Madagascar - We became good friends, even though we do not have any common language or will be able to see each other again, says Peng Yueling. She is delighted that she can now make food in a smoke free kitchen and can cook easily and conveniently.

Her husband is also happy. The biogas tank ensures that the family save money on energy. The organic fertilizer is used on their fields where they cultivate corn, cabbage, carrots and potatoes. The result is a better environment, better health and a little more money to spend on school fees and other necessities.

How Does Biogas work? 

Waste from the human toilet, the animal pen and any kitchen waste all goes into the tank under the farm. The air-tight tank transforms the biomass waste into methane. Thus, renewable energy is made. This gas is odourless and produces no smoke, and can be used for cooking and lighting. When the "mixture" has produced the gas, the sludge and slurry that comes out of the tank is now organic fertilizer of high quality. So, the biogas digester does not only provide gas for cooking and lighting, but also good organic fertilizer for the field.

Great Impact Over the past five years, NMS has enabled more than 1,000 families in YongShun in Hunan to get biogas digesters on their farms. Now we want to help to provide biogas for even more families in YongShun in China. As a part of this project, we are also transferring the success of the biogas projects in China to our partner in Madagascar. Do you want to make this possible?

Do you want to help?
For about one hundred pounds, you can provide a biogas tank for one of the neighbours of Peng Yueling & He Qiwan. By supporting this project, you help fight poverty, protect the environment and improve women's health.  Peng Yueling & He Qiwancan enjoy a biogas tank that can last 20-30 years. Would you like biogas valuable for more people? Click here to find out how you can support this project. 

Technicians from Madagascar who studied biogas in China: From left : ANDRIANATOANDRO Jaona Rasoloarinala , IARIVELO Niaina Thierry , RAZAFINDRAINIBE Jean Patrick RAVALISON Andriamisaina and RANAIVOARISOA Jean Dieu Donné Richard

A Chinese Biogas Update from Madagascar

I love this volunteering experience here in Madagascar and feel so good! It is great to be outside almost all of the time! Malagasy people are eager to build biogas as most villages we visit have no electricity and the charcoal based cooking stove that they use are not very efficient.

Nearly 3 biogas digesters have been finished this week. During this week, Chen JiaHai also had a chance to give the technicians here further training.  

We feel the farmers and project leader are both very eager to get this biogas project going. The project Leader of FLM in Fianarantsoa, Alfred, said a reporter of a local newspaper is going to write about the biogas project. 

Both Chen JiaHai and I enjoy working with Stine. She is doing a good job translating between English and Malagasy. Chen JiaHai is happy to see that the biogas sites are working very well.

We did hiking this morning and it was very nice.

We eat well and sleep well! 

This update is written by Jane Ren. She has travelled from the wonderful Middle Kingdom to volunteer in Madagascar as a translator in the International Biogas Programme that seeks to transfer the biogas success from China to Madagascar. She is translating for the biogas technician Chen JiaHai from YongShun in Hunan (in China).  

Good reasons to have biogas in Madagascar (and around the world):

1) To protect the blue sky as God's creation

2) Every day you see people push carts of charcoal on terrible roads for hours. By using biogas, you do not need to use charcoal!

3) To stop cutting down trees. In this country, trees are in danger.

4) To change the inefficient and smoky ways of cooking into a clean and efficient gas stove

5) To give light through the biogas lamp (especially nice as many people have no access to electricity here)

6) To get enough organic fertilizer for the field.

7) To save expenses for farmers in order to improve their living standard! 

Perhaps you can think of other good reasons?

This article is written by Jane Ren (see picture). She has travelled from the wonderful Middle Kingdom to volunteer in Madagascar as a translator in the International Biogas Programme that seeks to transfer the biogas success from China to Madagascar. She is translating for the biogas technician Chen JiaHai from YongShun in Hunan (in China).  

Peng WuYu is finding it hard not to smile .

Peng WuYu ( 47 ) and her husband Yan Xigang ( 48 ) are both having trouble not smiling today. The hundred Pounds that purchased the biogas tank under their farm has had a great impact on their lives. Peng WuYu tells me that they have not only got a higher income, better health and a lot more time, but the installation may even improve the chances of marriage for their two sons. How is this possible?

Peng WuYu and her husband Yan Xigang have recently got a biogas tank on their farm through the International biogas project NMS is running in China and Madagascar. It does not take long before Peng WuYu explains why she is so excited about biogas:

"It is so easy to cook quickly with biogas! Before we got the installation, cooking was complicated and time consuming, but now it is easy and quickly done "says Peng WuYu and smiles while she continues:" Also there is no smoke in the kitchen anymore - it's so refeshing ! "According to the World Health Organization ( WHO), smoke in the kitchen is responsible for 1.6 million deaths each year through pneumonia , chronic respiratory diseases and lung cancer . So it is no wonder that Mrs. Peng is excited about no longer having any smoke in the kitchen.

Waste from the toilet, the animal pen and any kitchen waste all goes into the tank under the farm. The air-tight tank transforms the biomass waste into methane. Thus, renewable energy is made. This gas is odourless and produces no smoke, and can be used for cooking and lighting. When the "mixture" has produced the gas, the sludge and slurry that comes out of the tank is now organic fertilizer of high quality.

This means that Peng WuYu and Yan man Xigang not only get gas for cooking and lighting, but also good organic fertilizer for their 2.5 acres of land. This fertilizer increases their harvest considerably, which they are both very happy about.

The couple is thankful for the money they save and the higher yields they are anticipating. It's tough to make ends meet in the countryside, especially since both sons are now in high school and education here is certainly not cheap. Peng WuYu , however, insists that her sons should go to school, as she did not complete primary school and would like to give her two sons a better future .

Last year, Peng WuYu had to go to the city for several months to earn money. She found this very challenging as she prefers to be available for her old mother on the farm and she did not like that the fields were not farmed or looked after.

After getting the biogas digester, she has more money but also a lot more time. She no longer needs to go to the city to earn money, but not having to collect wood, means that she has more time available. This means that she now can be available to her mother and her sons as well as being able to cultivate the fields- something she is very thankful for.

"Before we got biogas, I spent much of the day collecting twigs and wood for cooking. I went out 3-4 times a day and spent most of the day on cooking and picking up sticks and wood (15 to 20 kilos per day). As we now have biogas, I no longer need to collect twigs or wood and cooking is really quick and convenient " says Peng WuYu and smiles. With a lot more free time, she is now able to spend time on activities she enjoys and improve her family’s income: 

"I make these traditional backpacks of straw! I sell these and get some extra income" she says excitedly before a big smile takes over her face again.

The family is proud to belong to the Tujia minority. This people group lost much of their traditional culture a long time ago. For this reason they are particularly proud of Tujia crafts. So, Mrs Peng is excited about making these traditional Tujia baskets which are used to transport everything from children to grain. In this simple way, she is keeping alive traditional Tujia culture.

Mrs Peng is clearly grateful for how biogas has made her life much easier. "Do you have any other dreams?” I wonder. "Hm …" she says quietly looking out of her window: "Yes, I hope that one day my sons may get married," she says , laughing. Curiously enough the biogas tank may in fact have a positive effect on their chances of finding a wife in the future.”

Strange but true. With China's restrictive laws on child birth coupled with a traditional preference for boys, about 122 boys are born per 100 girls in China. This means that approximately 15 % of men in China will never marry. It is especially difficult for the young men who live on a farm where the bride's life would most likely be tough and tiring. Getting a biogas tank on the farm could actually improve the sons chances of marriage.

Over the past five years, NMS has made it possible for over 1,000 families in Yongshun in Hunan Province to get biogas digesters on their farms. In the next year, we want to transform the lives of many more farmers through biogas digesters in Yongshun, China.Do you want to make it possible for the neighbours of Peng WuYu to enjoy a biogas digester on their farm?

For about one hundred Pounds, you can provide a whole biogas tank for one family on the "The mountain of the Bachelors". By supporting this project, you help fight poverty, protect the environment and improve women's health. Click here to find out how you can support this project.