A clean school kitchen not only helps to reduce the children’s risks of exposure to many pollutants such as bacteria and allergens like dust mites. A clean kitchen is also less inviting to mice, rats, and other pests. Bacteria or germs are everywhere – including the kitchen, where food is stored, prepared, and eaten.

This is why we have included a hygiene indicator when monitoring the institutional improved cook stoves (IICS). Because firewood reductions are one of the many goals we follow up to achieve as part of our Project Activity.

The behavioural change we implement in the kitchen when continuously training the school cooks is also about cleaning the IICS, removing the ash and storing the firewood outside in a dry place, to ensure there is no place for mice and other insects to hide. So everyone (children and staff) can enjoy a healthy meal.