In Mwanza, many schoolchildren—especially girls—are missing classes because they spend hours collecting firewood for cooking.
For low-income families, firewood is still the main source of fuel. Rising charcoal prices and a lack of affordable alternatives make firewood the only option for most rural households.
But the task of gathering firewood often falls on children, particularly girls. They wake up early and walk long distances to find wood, which means they arrive late at school—or miss classes entirely.
The problem has worsened due to climate change, which has reduced forest cover and made firewood harder to find. Deforestation, caused by cutting trees for fuel, also adds to environmental degradation and unpredictable weather patterns in the region.
Teachers in Mwanza report that absenteeism is highest among girls from poor families. Many return home tired and struggle to concentrate on their studies. Some even drop out completely.
Local leaders and education activists are calling for affordable clean energy solutions, such as biogas and solar cookers, to reduce dependency on firewood and keep children in school.
“Unless we invest in sustainable energy for homes, we will continue losing girls to this cycle,” said an education officer in Mwanza.
