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Gorilla Doctors is dedicated to saving the mountain gorilla species one patient at a time. We are the only group providing wild mountain and Grauer's gorillas with direct, hands-on medicial care. Research has proven that by intervening to save sick and injured gorillas, the Gorilla Doctors have helped the overall mountain gorilla population to increase. Learn more at GorillaDoctors.org.

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Wednesday
May252011

MGVP Supports Local Alternative Fuel Business

A sign advertising the business in Kinyarwanda is put in place.

This blog was written by MGVP volunteer Claire Welsh.

MGVP has supported local alternative fuel briquette entrepreneurs, Mao and Imaculee Umiwana, as they manufacture briquettes made only of recycled paper and sawdust.  Through generous donations, MGVP painted and fixed up the workshop where the briquettes are made and had a sign built and placed along the road advertising the product.

The briquette workshop before being painted.The workshop after being painted.

Many members of the community were already stopping by to learn more about the Alternative Fuel Briquettes as the sign was going up.

Mao painting.

Unlike charcoal, the most common fuel used in the area, which requires the burning of large amounts of wood to produce, fuel briquettes are made from recycled materials like paper and sawdust. The alternative fuel briquettes support an end to the illegal deforestation for charcoal in mountain gorilla habitat.

Mao working in the garden.

If you are in Rwanda trekking gorillas please visit the workshop in Musanze and watch a demonstration of how the briquettes are made. We wish Mao and Imaculee the best of luck as their business grows and improves.

Please consider supporting the Gorilla Doctors by making a secure online donation. Every dollar you give goes to directly supporting our gorilla health programs and One Health initiative. Thank you for your generosity.

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Reader Comments (1)

looks like Mao is working really hard on this project. What about using Natural gas as alternative fuel.
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September 29, 2011 | Unregistered Commenterrayjohn1

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